diff --git a/public/videos/smoke-poster.jpg b/public/videos/smoke-poster.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f941c8
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/videos/smoke-poster.jpg differ
diff --git a/public/videos/smoke.mp4 b/public/videos/smoke.mp4
index e953e6b..f0cf9e1 100644
Binary files a/public/videos/smoke.mp4 and b/public/videos/smoke.mp4 differ
diff --git a/src/components/UserHeader.tsx b/src/components/UserHeader.tsx
index 3a25427..7015601 100644
--- a/src/components/UserHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/components/UserHeader.tsx
@@ -134,10 +134,16 @@ export function UserHeader({ user, preferences, onModalStateChange }: UserHeader
   const { theme, toggleTheme } = useTheme();
   const { isSupported, permission, requestPermission } = useNotifications(reminderSettings);
   const videoRef = useRef<HTMLVideoElement>(null);
+  const [isVideoLoaded, setIsVideoLoaded] = useState(false);
 
   // Force play background video
   useEffect(() => {
     if (videoRef.current) {
+      // If already ready, set loaded immediately
+      if (videoRef.current.readyState >= 3) {
+        setIsVideoLoaded(true);
+      }
+
       videoRef.current.play().catch((err) => {
         console.warn("Autoplay failed, user interaction might be needed:", err);
       });
@@ -251,7 +257,15 @@ export function UserHeader({ user, preferences, onModalStateChange }: UserHeader
             loop
             muted
             playsInline
-            className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover scale-110 opacity-70 dark:opacity-50 brightness-[1.1] dark:brightness-[0.85] transition-opacity duration-1000"
+            preload="auto"
+            poster="/videos/smoke-poster.jpg"
+            onCanPlayThrough={() => setIsVideoLoaded(true)}
+            className={cn(
+              "absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover scale-110 brightness-[1.1] dark:brightness-[0.85] transition-all duration-[2000ms] ease-in-out",
+              isVideoLoaded
+                ? "opacity-70 dark:opacity-50 blur-0"
+                : "opacity-40 dark:opacity-30 blur-sm"
+            )}
           >
             <source src="/videos/smoke.mp4" type="video/mp4" />
           </video>