DIGITAL FATIGUE
TURN IT OFF OR RUN EMPTY!
Fazmina Imamudeen watches closely as tech exhaustion saps modern workplaces
The modern work day begins and ends with a screen. Emails are checked before breakfast, meetings unfold on video platforms and evenings are rarely free of glowing devices.
While the efficiency of digital tools can’t be denied, their constant presence is leaving many professionals depleted. This is known as digital fatigue – a form of exhaustion that creeps in quietly but carries wide-ranging consequences for individuals and organisations alike.
Unlike physical exhaustion caused by travel or long working hours, digital fatigue is more subtle and difficult to recognise. It manifests as reduced concentration, disturbed sleep and a persistent sense of pressure.
With notifications arriving continuously on our devices, the boundary between work and leisure erodes to create a state of cognitive overload. Tasks merge into one another and what initially appears to be productivity ultimately proves to be mentally exhausting.
The root of the problem lies in the COVID-19 pandemic years.
Remote working demanded that digital platforms take over the structure of business life. What was once intended as a temporary solution has become a permanent habit. Hybrid work arrangements remain widely adopted but they also entail elevated levels of screen time.
And the challenges lie not only in the number of hours people spend online but also the very quality of those interactions. Video calls demand sustained focus while providing fewer human cues than face-to-face conversations.
Stanford researchers link this to ‘Zoom fatigue,’ which stems from intense eye contact and the constant pressure of self-display. Messaging apps add to the strain by constantly interrupting our focus. Even brief diversions consume minutes of recovery and steadily drain energy levels.
In traditional offices, the work day offered natural pauses. Walking to a colleague’s desk, pausing by the coffee machine or commuting between meetings gave the mind small but vital chances to reset.
Today, those moments look very different as people work from cafes, co-working spaces or home offices, and the digital rhythm often leaves little room for reflection. Back-to-back online meetings, persistent notifications and tightly scheduled tasks can make even flexible workdays feel exhausting, turning what once promised efficiency into a source of strain.
The consequences for businesses are far from abstract – because fatigue gradually erodes our judgement, cramps creativity and increases the likelihood of errors, leaving productivity faltering and staff disengaged with some eventually choosing to call it a day.
And the pressures of working across time zones, attending meetings late at night, adjusting schedules constantly and responding to emails outside regular hours amplify these effects and make recovery more difficult.
In sectors, industries and trades where innovation and agility determine survival, the hidden costs are particularly severe because they undermine both competitiveness and morale.
Inconsistent responses are slowly emerging but these address only part of the challenge. Some organisations have shortened meetings and designated hours free from appointments while others encourage asynchronous communication so that updates can be shared without demanding immediate replies.
In parts of Europe, certain firms have taken the additional step of limiting after-hours email access, and reinforced the boundary between professional and personal time.
Culture often exerts a stronger influence than policy. A late night message from a senior leader can set an unspoken expectation even if no reply is required. However, managers who model restraint empower their teams to do the same.
Occasional in-person gatherings provide another layer of support by restoring informal exchanges that digital tools can’t replicate. These nurture trust and soften the intensity of constant online interaction.
But technology in itself isn’t the problem.
The real failure lies in assuming that more connection automatically delivers better outcomes. And the challenge remains to deploy digital tools with deliberate intent after recognising both their advantages and limits.
