The Science of Zoom Fatigue: Why Video Calls Drain You More Than In-Person Meetings

The phenomenon colloquially known as "Zoom fatigue" has been validated by a growing body of peer-reviewed research that identifies specific cognitive and physiological mechanisms explaining why video calls are more exhausting than in-person meetings or traditional phone calls. These findings have significant implications for workplace productivity, employee well-being, and how organizations design their communication practices in the post-pandemic era.

Research led by Jeremy Bailenson at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab identified four primary factors that contribute to video call fatigue. First, the constant close-up eye contact required by video calls is unnaturally intense.