What the research examined
In April 2021, Microsoft published findings from a small study involving 14 participants. Researchers compared video meeting sessions with and without breaks, using EEG equipment to observe brain activity. The break condition included ten-minute periods of meditation between meetings. It was a specific experiment, rather than a survey of every workplace.
What Microsoft reported
Microsoft reported patterns consistent with accumulating stress during consecutive meetings without breaks. The break condition showed different patterns, including indicators associated with better engagement. These findings support taking meeting schedules seriously. They do not establish that every type of break has identical effects, or that changing software alone solves meeting fatigue.
Put a gap in the diary
A practical response is to schedule shorter sessions and protect the time between them. State the decision needed, share background material beforehand and finish when the task is complete. Avoid filling a new gap immediately with another call. A break is most useful when colleagues are actually free to step away.
Apply the lesson to every meeting format
The same scheduling care should inform in-person, video and VR sessions. Moving to a virtual room does not remove the need for breaks or a manageable workload. If a team trials VR meetings, assess comfort and session length alongside collaboration. Better planning and an appropriate environment should work together.
Read the original research
Source: Microsoft WorkLab, Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks, 20 April 2021. Read Microsoft’s study summary.
Explore the next step
If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.