Bored of Zoom? 7 believable excuses to get out of your next lockdown video call

It can be hard saying no to virtual hangouts when we have virtually nowhere else to go these days, but don’t feel bad if you’re looking for a break from Zoom calls and virtual quizzes.

We’ve spent nigh on 10 weeks in lockdown, so it’s little wonder if you are bored of sitting in front of the same screen all day.

Metro.co.uk previously spoke to Counselling Directory member Laura Vowels who told us there are loads of reasons why video chats could leave us feeling drained – from the fact that we’re used to being able to rely on non-verbal cues to the fact there are can be many, many people in a single Zoom call.

So if you’re tire, you’ve found your calendar dangerously full of Zoom calls and you want to cut back, here are some ready-made excuses that you can keep in your back pocket.

‘Sorry, I have another call/quiz that night’

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How are your uni friends going to know that you and your work friends don’t have a thing scheduled?

How would your work friends know that your family hasn’t planned a last-minute catch-up that you’ll naturally have to prioritise?

Spoiler alert: If you don’t tell then, they probably won’t.

‘It’s date night with bae’

If you’ve got a partner – whether they’re locking down with or without you – all you need to make this one work is for your bae to be onside and keep their silence.

While you’re at it, why not schedule an actual date night with your paramour so this excuse to avoid a call becomes an excuse for quality time with your boo.

‘I need to work late’

This excuse only works if you’re known to have a demanding job and should really only be used as a very last resort.

Be careful about using this one to get out of too many Zoom calls, as it could start to lead to more questions like ‘what are you working on?’ and ‘can’t it wait?’

It will also start to feel a little less like an innocent little white lie if it starts to make your friends and family worry about your workload and wellbeing. You don’t want your mum to start telling you you need to find a new job because you’re being worked too hard when really you just wanted to get out of a Zoom call you forgot about at the last minute.

‘My wifi isn’t working’

Since getting in touch with our friends via Zoom relies on having a reliable internet connection, saying that your internet is faulty is pretty hard to argue with.

This one works especially well for anyone who thinks there’s a chance they might change their mind and fancy joining the call later when their, ahem, wifi is up and running properly again.

‘I’m not feeling well’

While it goes without saying that you shouldn’t make anybody worry about your health in the middle of a pandemic for no reason, you can still pull a sicky within reason.

Headaches are always a trusty fallback, as are stomach aches, since it’s highly unlikely anyone will be asking for specific details when it comes to tummy troubles. You don’t even need to go into the specifics.

‘Oops, totally missed this…’

This one only works if you know from the word go that you’re not keen on a particular virtual event that’s being discussed.

All you need to do is ignore whatever group chat the plans are being discussed in until it’s too late to do anything about it, and then apologise after the fact for ‘missing the messages’.

Digital detoxes are still all the rage after all!

Just tell the truth

This is hands down the best way of all to get out of a Zoom call that you just don’t have the heart for.

As long as it’s not some kind of major Zoom event (here’s looking at you virtual birthdays, hen dos, stag dos, and weddings) then your loved ones should be able to understand if you need to cancel and get some headspace.

We’re in a pandemic after all, and even if we weren’t, one of the most important things you can do is look after yourself and your mental health.

That goes double during this very scary time.

How to combat Zoom fatigue

There’s a chance we may have to rely on Zoom to help us connect with loved ones for some time yet. If you want to fight the exhaustion that comes as a result, Laura recommends taking breaks, having smaller virtual gatherings and remembering that you can always say no to a call when you’re tired.

She says: ‘People could help fatigue by limiting the time they’re on Zoom at any given time and making sure to get up every once in a while.

‘Also doing some activity together can take the pressure away from having to talk constantly. For example, having a meal together when you can alternate between looking at the screen and your food.

‘Additionally, having less people in calls at a time instead of having a party with 20 people.

‘And just remembering that it’s ok to say no if you’re too exhausted or to suggest that you continue the conversation at another time.’

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