Rob Walker (he/him)

Rob Walker joined Momma on January 11, 2021 for a live Q&A via Twitch and YouTube to talk about Video Call Fatigue & Mental Health

About Rob

Rob Walker is a father of 3 grown daughters and a rescue beagle named Hank.  He lives in  a suburb of Boston, and works for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, bringing the voice of people with a diagnosis to the table, to influence policy and programs.  Since March of 2020, he has worked with an Assistant Professor from Dartmouth College, and an awesome team, to train and certify over 3,000 people across the country and the world, to offer peer support remotely, and how to take care of yourself during this "new normal." Rob is a person with lived experience of a mental health diagnosis, which informs all areas of his work. 

Episode Summary

If you’re feeling wiped out from nonstop video calls, struggling to focus, or just wondering why remote life feels so exhausting, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways

• Video calls can increase cognitive load and mental fatigue.

• Maintaining a routine is crucial for productivity while working from home.

• Access to care has improved for many due to telehealth options.

• Seeing pets and children during Zoom calls can lighten the mood.

• The experience of working from home varies greatly among individuals. 

• It's important to lower expectations and practice self-care during stressful times.

• Taking breaks between meetings can help alleviate fatigue.

• Social interactions, even online, are crucial for mental health.

• Creative solutions like walking therapy can enhance social connections.

• Community and connection are vital for well-being.

• Touch starvation is a significant issue during social distancing.

• Pets and family can provide comfort and connection during tough times.

In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, MommaFoxFire sits down with returning guest Rob Walker from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to talk about something most of us have experienced but don’t always know how to explain: Zoom fatigue.

Rob, a peer support advocate and father of three (plus a beagle named Hank), opens up about how remote work has changed not just how we connect but how we function. Since the pandemic hit, our personal and professional lives have been jammed into the same tiny box - literally, on screen. Coffee chats, therapy appointments, team meetings, happy hours and even first dates have all been flattened into the same platform. No wonder our brains are short-circuiting.

Rob breaks it down: video calls demand more brainpower. Without in-person body language or spatial awareness, we spend calls analyzing eye contact, wondering about delays, and stressing about how we’re coming across... all while staring at ourselves in a tiny box. That constant cognitive load drains energy fast. Throw in back-to-back meetings with zero breaks, and you’ve got a recipe for exhaustion, irritability and what Rob calls “brain mush.”

But it’s not all bad. Rob points out some positives, like how remote access has actually improved mental healthcare for some. In his work, he’s seen people gain access to support and specialists they might never have been able to reach otherwise. Telehealth, Zoom therapy and online support groups are now part of the new normal... and for many, they’re more convenient, more affordable and more accessible.

They talk about practical ways to fight Zoom fatigue, too. Rob recommends building breaks into your schedule, stepping away from screens and doing things offline. A walk outside, cooking a new recipe, or sitting in a different room for lunch can make a big difference. And just because you can do everything on Zoom doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes, an email or phone call really is enough.

The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of social distancing - especially for people who miss hugs, handshakes and real-life hangouts. Rob suggests tapping into other ways of connecting: online hobby groups, cooking classes, gaming with friends, even walking therapy sessions. Pets, weighted blankets and asking your kids for hugs also made the list as ways to soothe touch starvation.

They wrap up by busting one of the most damaging myths about depression: that people who are struggling are just being lazy. Rob is clear - depression isn’t laziness. It’s an illness. People dealing with it are not weak or unmotivated. In fact, they’re often some of the most resilient people out there.

This episode is full of honest, funny and practical insights into what it means to live, work, and stay connected in a world where everything feels just a little too virtual. Whether you're working from home, burned out from video calls or just trying to stay human in the middle of it all - this one’s worth a listen.