Zoom has become an indispensable tool for overcoming the obstacles of distant work and communication, being used for everything from team meetings to one-on-ones to virtual happy hours. Despite the benefits to businesses, "Zoom weariness" is a real problem for many remote and hybrid workers, especially those whose employment requires them to meet frequently via video conference.

The Young Entrepreneur Council members understand this problem all too well. Here, they provide advice on how to avoid Zoom burnout and make the next online gathering a success.

With "Zoom weariness" affecting everyone, what's one way you can make your next Zoom meeting more interesting and enjoyable for your team members?

1. Eliminate Unnecessary Meetings

Eliminate extraneous attendees, always have an agenda, and choose a leader for your meetings. If your group is well-organized, meetings can yield useful results. If someone is in charge of deciding what the meeting will be about, they should also determine who will be there. How many times could an email have replaced a Zoom meeting? —Arian Radmand, IgnitePost

2. Invite an Unexpected Guest

Put a goat on the guest list. It's not Tom Brady or Michael Jordan I'm referring to, but a real live goat. You can have one of the goats from Cronkshaw Fold Farm join your next online meeting by contacting the farm. One of our agency-wide meetings went off without a hitch when I brought a goat to participate in the discussion. —Ryan Stoner, Dendro

3. Set Fun Meeting Themes

Setting meeting themes is one way to make Zoom meetings more interesting and enjoyable for employees. In order to lighten the mood online, encourage team members to set personalized backdrops, adopt costumes, or come up with nicknames. —Richard Fong, Bliss Drive

4. Encourage Pet Appearances

A pet photobombing a webcam might not seem like much, but it can make someone's day. An employee must often shoo a pet away or relocate the camera when it demands attention. The team's mood and commitment to projects and expected metrics will improve with some positive reinforcement. —Duran Inci, Optimum7

5. Promote Employee Interaction

There needs to be more of a push for participation. It's annoying when people chatter at you nonstop. In general, people like to talk and feel like they belong. If you want the meeting to go quickly and allow everyone a chance to share their thoughts, make sure the questions and agenda are distributed in advance. —Peter Boyd, PaperStreet Web Design

6. Create Engaging Content

During the epidemic, I had to give serious consideration to how I could keep in touch with my staff while hiding behind my computer. Along the process, I had an epiphany that combined several concepts and some minor adjustments. We already spend eight hours a day staring at screens, so zoom fatigue isn't solely due to a lack of adjusting to or getting used to them. —Samuel Thimothy, OneIMS

7. Participate in Round-Robins

A nice way to start and end a call is with a good amount of interaction, so try having a fast round-robin or something fairly light to involve everyone at the beginning and at the end of the meeting. Nobody will feel pressured to "show off" during Zoom meetings if these easy and enjoyable concepts are used. Example: Turn off the team's cameras and have them describe the clothing of a teammate. —Candice Georgiadis, Digital Day

8. Utilize Zoom's Chat Feature

When we have a meeting, we often use the chat function to have brief, off-topic talks in the background. This occurs rapidly and typically involves joking, discussing the speaker's words, and asking questions. It's a fantastic method for getting people involved in your Zoom conferences. Therefore, don't stifle the chatter that naturally arises in meetings, since it can lead to some lighthearted moments. —Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner

9. Add a Q&A Session

Include a short Q&A session at the end of your next Zoom meeting to increase attendance and participation. Take advantage of this opportunity to address any concerns or questions your staff may have. This is the most exciting and fruitful portion of our meetings because it always leads to interesting discussions and new ideas. —John Turner, SeedProd LLC

10. Keep Meetings within a Time Limit

To avoid participants being exhausted from using Zoom, meetings should last no more than 30 minutes. Meeting success can be increased by strictly adhering to the call's agenda. —Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC

11. Switch Up Meeting Types

Zoom eye strain can be remedied by taking a break from being on camera. Achieve this goal by alternating between meetings with and without video. Because of this, you'll feel less pressure. Only for mandatory all-staff meetings and other company-wide events do we use mandatory video calls. —Zane Stevens, Protea Financial

12. Incorporate Tangible Exercises

In this Zoom era, it can be challenging to strike a balance between on-screen and off-screen time, despite its importance for preserving energy and fighting weariness. To spice up your next Zoom meeting, try introducing some exercises that need paper-based workbooks or quiet time for contemplation. Team members can stay interested in the discussion at hand rather than staring at a screen the entire meeting by doing. —Matthew Manos, verynice