Philippines
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Make online meetings 'short and direct to the point' to avoid fatigue --- DOH exec
Make online meetings 'short and direct to the point' to avoid fatigue --- DOH exec
Video conferences or online meetings should be kept “short and direct to the point” to avoid virtual fatigue for those people under the work from home set up, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.
“I suggest that yung meetings iiksian natin and the direct to the point kung ano lang ang pagme-meetingan (I suggest that meetings should be short and direct to the point on what the meeting is all about),” said DOH-Mental Health Division Consultant Dr. Agnes Casiño during an online forum on Tuesday, Aug. 10.
Spending long hours on video conferences and online meetings can cause exhaustion and fatigue, said Casiño.
“There are studies supporting that we cannot really have the whole day attending video conferences or meetings online,” she said.
Casiño said that other work matters can be done through other means of communication.
“On other things that don’t need video conferences, we can just talk about it through emails, and not exactly through a video conference anymore,” she said.
Those attending online meetings may take a break between meetings to avoid exhaustion, said Casiño.
“In between meetings, have time to walk around or have a breathing exercise before you go on to the next meeting,” she said.
People working from home should set a schedule and stick to it as much as possible to maintain their work-life balance, said Casiño, adding that it is important to develop a routine.
“For example. When you were going to work, wake up at 6 a.m., you take a bath, and dress up. You prepare also the way you are doing it before. Have this time that you psychologically prepare yourself: ‘this is work now,’” she said.
“Have this place at home that is considered as your workplace to set your mind that you are now at work,” she added.
For those who have children at home, parents should talk to their kids about their work schedule, said Casiño.
“Inform them that even if you are at home, you are still working. You have to explain that to children so they won’t bother you,” she said.
“After work, like 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. you prepare yourself. Take a breathing exercise after you work and close everything and ‘this is now my life. ’This is outside of work,” she added.