90% of Us Experience ‘Meeting Hangovers’—Here’s How to Avoid One

Ever felt drained after a pointless work meeting? You’re not alone.

According to the Harvard Business Review, 90% of workers say they experience a meeting hangover—the lingering effects of an unproductive or poorly run meeting.

A study found that 28% of meetings negatively impact employees, leaving them feeling less focused, less motivated, and less productive for up to two hours—or even the rest of the day.

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Top 5 Causes of a Meeting Hangover:

1. Too much irrelevant discussion – 59% of workers say meetings get derailed.
2. Lack of a clear agenda – Another 59% say unclear objectives lead to wasted time.
3. Poor time management – 53% report meetings running longer than necessary.
4. No actionable outcomes – 48% say nothing meaningful gets accomplished.
5. Unequal participation – 39% say only a few people do all the talking.

How to Recover from a Meeting Hangover

If you’re left feeling sluggish after a meeting, try these quick fixes:

✅ Take a short break to reset your focus.
✅ Go for a quick walk to clear your head.
✅ Talk things out with a coworker—but avoid excessive venting, as negativity can spread.

How to Prevent a Meeting Hangover

Bosses and team leaders can help by:

🔹 Keeping meetings short and focused.
🔹 Setting a clear agenda and sticking to it.
🔹 Encouraging equal participation.
🔹 Ending meetings on time (or earlier!).

So, if you’ve got a meeting today, stay hydrated and hope for the best! 😅