During the pandemic, most of us maximized the opportunity to attend meetings without going out to them. We simply logged in to the meetings virtually, and we could actively participate in them.
But does being virtually present also mean being mentally present?
As we grappled with this newfound superpower, many of us found ourselves torn between two virtual meetings, each demanding our presence. It was a struggle, a juggling act that left us feeling stretched thin.
Without the physical constraints of in-person meetings, some of us attempted to be present in both, unwittingly subjecting ourselves to mental overload. The consequences were not immediate, but they were real and significant.
Coincidentally, it was during this same period that people, especially knowledge workers, became vocal about becoming burnt out. Because who wouldn’t be if we treated our bodies or had ourselves treated like machines?
As knowledge workers, are we supposed to operate like clockwork, measured by our output per hour like factory workers? Should we be applauded for how many virtual meetings we can attend simultaneously or how many online gatherings we participate in weekly?
Should we always hold up a facade of busyness because being in constant activity seems productive but without producing quality work? Or should we be encouraged to pursue a working principle that produces quality output instead?
I hope that back-to-back virtual meetings will stay in the past, and so will the traditional productivity concept.
jessa 