It’s 9:00 a.m. on a Monday, and my inbox is already overflowing: dozens of newsletters, client emails piling up, Slack messages multiplying, a looming KPI update, and a to-do list the length of a CVS receipt. I take a sip of coffee, start sorting through it all. But only 28 minutes later, I’m off to my first meeting. By the time the day’s kickoff calls, internal huddles, client meetings, and end-of-day strategy sessions are accounted for, my “productive Monday” has shrunk to barely two free hours of time to actually do the work I need to do. And somehow, I’m still expected to answer every message, organize my teams, and crank out an “urgent” press release.
In public relations, this isn’t chaos, it’s just Monday. Meeting fatigue strikes again.
Meeting fatigue isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a serious productivity drain that can leave PR professionals tapped and struggling to find time for deep work that moves the needle. So how can we actually fight back against meeting fatigue? Decline all meeting invites with an upside down face emoji? Turn our cameras off and pretend to listen to a client call when we are really pitching for a product launch? Or do we just stage a full on resistance against the corporate machine, throw our laptops into the ocean, and retreat to a remote island that doesn’t have a wifi signal?
None of those seem like very good options. So here’s what we can do instead:
- Become the (ruthless) master of your own schedule
Not every meeting actually needs you, or needs to exist at all, for that matter. Take charge of your calendar by reviewing your upcoming weekly meetings and ask yourself if you need to attend. Could it be an email/Slack/Teams update instead? Could you review a recording? Reclaiming one or two hours a week can make a real difference in your productivity.
- Be purposeful, not performative
If a meeting doesn’t have an agenda, decision, or outcome, it’s likely to drain more energy than it delivers. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarity on what the meeting’s purpose is, or suggest a shorter, more focused format. Some 30-minute meetings can be boiled down to a tight 15, forcing clearer thinking, tighter conversations, quicker decisions, and more time back in your busy day for deep work.
- The buffer is your friend
Back-to-back meetings leave no room to think, reset, or act on what was just discussed. Try adding 5–15 minute blocks on your calendar between calls to capture notes, prioritize next steps, or simply take a mental (or coffee) break. The short windows between meetings are valuable, and you can use them intentionally for quick wins–like reviewing pitches, creating an outline, or responding to priority emails.
- Consolidate your mental load
Executing on various different workstreams during one day can feel exhausting. Try to spend your time focusing on one client at a time and work your way through urgent priorities first, allowing yourself to be fully immersed rather than pulled in too many directions at once.
Meeting fatigue may feel like an unavoidable part of working in the PR industry, but it doesn’t have to define your day or ruin your productivity. You have the ability to guard your own time. Whether it’s a no-meeting morning, a weekly focus block, or a personal boundary on your calendar, protect your time and protect your peace. By being more intentional about how you schedule, show up to, and recover from meetings, you can reclaim focus, protect your energy, and create space for the strategic and creative work that matters most.
Small shifts in how you manage your time between meetings can add up to lasting, meaningful change, helping you not only get more done, but do better work. For PR professionals navigating packed calendars and high expectations, learning to work smarter isn’t a luxury, it’s an essential skill.
This blog was written by Kaitlynn Cooney, President, PR Club