The Necessity of 'Travel Time' in a Virtual Work World

In the modern era of remote work, the physical boundaries of the office have largely dissolved. While the shift to virtual meetings has reduced commuting and lessened environmental impact, it has introduced a subtle, pervasive problem: the tendency to stack meetings back-to-back without any intervals. In this episode of Before Breakfast, host Laura argues that we must intentionally "build in travel time" to our virtual schedules to preserve our well-being and productivity.

The Lost Ritual of Physical Transit

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical act of moving between conference rooms served as a natural buffer. As Laura notes, if you had a 1 o'clock meeting and a 2 o'clock meeting in a large office, the "reasonable hike" required to get there acted as a forced break. This transit time was a "natural consequence of people being unable to teleport," but it provided essential benefits: the opportunity to "stand up and move around," get "fresh air," and enjoy a moment of "respite" from the demands of constant interaction.

The Pitfalls of Back-to-Back Virtual Meetings

Today, the temptation to chain meetings together is high. With a simple mouse click, one can jump from a 1 o'clock call directly into a 2 o'clock call, leaving no room for transition. Laura highlights that this behavior is detrimental. Without these breaks, we lose the necessary time to:

• Process Information: We need time to "write down the to-dos that come out of each meeting."
• Recover Mentally: We need to "breathe and clear their heads" to prevent the onset of "burnout."
• Maintain Physical Health: Sitting still for hours is inferior to "taking a few steps every hour or so," which is crucial to "boost people's energy levels."

Implementing the 10-Minute Buffer

To reclaim this time, Laura suggests fostering a workplace culture where standard one-hour meetings end "10 minutes early." While starting meetings 10 minutes late is a mathematical equivalent, ending early is often easier to explain and adopt with external partners.

When scheduling, she advises that we "lean into this" by proactively requesting shorter agendas. If someone sends an invite for a full hour, ask if it can be shortened to allow for a quick break to "grab a coffee or think about their notes." Most professionals recall the pre-2020 office culture, so this request will likely feel familiar and reasonable to them.

Making the Most of Your Break

Finally, Laura cautions against using these reclaimed 10-minute windows to merely "check email." While tempting, doing so keeps the mind trapped in a state of continuous, low-level stress. Instead, she encourages listeners to use this "open space" for something active—whether it is stepping outside for fresh air, taking a bathroom break, or simply moving around. These small, intentional actions provide the "energy boosts" needed to sustain performance throughout a day filled with Zoom calls. By building in travel time, we move beyond just managing our calendars and begin to truly manage our health and focus in a virtual environment.