Word Wiz: Meeting Hangover

The term meeting hangover describes the lingering mental fatigue that often follows back-to-back or overly long meetings. Organizational psychologists have used the phrase to highlight the unintended consequences that excessive or poorly structured meetings have on employees.

Meeting hangovers occur due to cognitive exhaustion. After long sessions of absorbing information, managing social dynamics, and switching between topics, individuals can experience fatigue, irritability, and an inability to focus on meaningful work. Asana's 2024 report, The State of Work Innovation, found that 28 percent of meetings left participants with lingering effects of impaired engagement and productivity. The phenomenon is especially common in remote or hybrid environments where videoconferencing has sharply increased meeting frequency.

Companies are beginning to take note. Some, like Canva and Citi, are reducing meeting times and instituting no-meeting days. According to The State of Work Innovation, understanding and addressing meeting hangovers preserves employee energy, boosting creativity, and enhancing overall productivity.