diff --git a/robot_log_visualizer/plotter/matplotlib_viewer_canvas.py b/robot_log_visualizer/plotter/matplotlib_viewer_canvas.py
index 92a385a..dc50957 100644
--- a/robot_log_visualizer/plotter/matplotlib_viewer_canvas.py
+++ b/robot_log_visualizer/plotter/matplotlib_viewer_canvas.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent, signal_provider, period):
         # start the vertical line animation
         (self.vertical_line,) = self.axes.plot([], [], "-", lw=1, c="k")
 
-        self.periond_in_ms = int(period * 1000)
+        self.period_in_ms = int(period * 1000)
 
         # active paths
         self.active_paths = {}
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent, signal_provider, period):
             self.fig,
             self.update_vertical_line,
             init_func=self.init_vertical_line,
-            interval=self.periond_in_ms,
+            interval=self.period_in_ms,
             blit=True,
         )
 
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ def quit_animation(self):
         if self.vertical_line_anim:
             self.vertical_line_anim._stop()
 
+    def pause_animation(self):
+        self.vertical_line_anim.pause()
+
+    def resume_animation(self):
+        self.vertical_line_anim.resume()
+
     def update_plots(self, paths, legends):
         for path, legend in zip(paths, legends):
             path_string = "/".join(path)
@@ -108,7 +114,7 @@ def update_plots(self, paths, legends):
             self.fig,
             self.update_vertical_line,
             init_func=self.init_vertical_line,
-            interval=self.periond_in_ms,
+            interval=self.period_in_ms,
             blit=True,
         )
 
diff --git a/robot_log_visualizer/ui/gui.py b/robot_log_visualizer/ui/gui.py
index e3428d4..fdc77a7 100644
--- a/robot_log_visualizer/ui/gui.py
+++ b/robot_log_visualizer/ui/gui.py
@@ -476,6 +476,13 @@ def textLogTreeWidget_on_click(self):
             self.text_logger.highlight_cell(self.find_text_log_index(path))
 
     def plotTabBar_currentChanged(self, index):
+        # pause all the animations except the one that is selected, this is done to avoid the overhead of the animations
+        for i in range(len(self.plot_items)):
+            if i != index:
+                self.plot_items[i].canvas.pause_animation()
+            else:
+                self.plot_items[i].canvas.resume_animation()
+
         # clear the selection to prepare a new one
         self.ui.variableTreeWidget.clearSelection()
         for active_path_str in self.plot_items[index].canvas.active_paths.keys():