diff --git a/videoarchiver/queue/manager.py b/videoarchiver/queue/manager.py
index 18040dc..358016b 100644
--- a/videoarchiver/queue/manager.py
+++ b/videoarchiver/queue/manager.py
@@ -144,67 +144,30 @@ class EnhancedVideoQueueManager:
         
         while not self._shutdown:
             try:
-                # Get next item from queue
-                item = None
+                # Process items in batches to avoid blocking
                 async with self._queue_lock:
-                    if self._queue:
+                    # Get up to 5 items from queue
+                    items = []
+                    while len(items) < 5 and self._queue:
                         item = self._queue.pop(0)
                         self._processing[item.url] = item
+                        items.append(item)
 
-                if not item:
-                    # Use shorter sleep when queue is empty
+                if not items:
+                    # Use shorter sleep when queue is empty and yield control
                     await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
                     continue
 
-                try:
-                    # Process the item
-                    logger.info(f"Processing queue item: {item.url}")
-                    item.start_processing()  # Start processing tracking
-                    self.metrics.last_activity_time = time.time()  # Update activity time
-                    
-                    success, error = await processor(item)
-                    
-                    # Update metrics and status
-                    async with self._processing_lock:
-                        item.finish_processing(success, error)  # Update item status
-                        
-                        if success:
-                            self._completed[item.url] = item
-                            logger.info(f"Successfully processed: {item.url}")
-                        else:
-                            if item.retry_count < self.max_retries:
-                                item.retry_count += 1
-                                item.status = "pending"
-                                item.last_retry = datetime.utcnow()
-                                item.priority = max(0, item.priority - 1)
-                                self._queue.append(item)
-                                logger.warning(f"Retrying: {item.url} (attempt {item.retry_count})")
-                            else:
-                                self._failed[item.url] = item
-                                logger.error(f"Failed after {self.max_retries} attempts: {item.url}")
+                # Process items concurrently
+                tasks = []
+                for item in items:
+                    task = asyncio.create_task(self._process_item(processor, item))
+                    tasks.append(task)
+                
+                # Wait for all tasks to complete
+                await asyncio.gather(*tasks, return_exceptions=True)
 
-                        self._processing.pop(item.url, None)
-                        
-                        # Update metrics
-                        self.metrics.update(
-                            processing_time=item.processing_time,
-                            success=success,
-                            error=error
-                        )
-
-                except Exception as e:
-                    logger.error(f"Error processing {item.url}: {e}")
-                    async with self._processing_lock:
-                        item.finish_processing(False, str(e))
-                        self._failed[item.url] = item
-                        self._processing.pop(item.url, None)
-                        self.metrics.update(
-                            processing_time=item.processing_time,
-                            success=False,
-                            error=str(e)
-                        )
-
-                # Persist state if enabled and interval has passed
+                # Persist state if interval has passed
                 current_time = time.time()
                 if self.persistence and (current_time - last_persist_time) >= persist_interval:
                     await self.persistence.persist_queue_state(
@@ -220,11 +183,65 @@ class EnhancedVideoQueueManager:
                 logger.error(f"Critical error in queue processor: {e}")
                 await asyncio.sleep(0.1)  # Brief pause on error before retrying
 
-            # Allow other tasks to run between iterations
+            # Yield control after each batch
             await asyncio.sleep(0)
 
         logger.info("Queue processor stopped")
 
+    async def _process_item(
+        self,
+        processor: Callable[[QueueItem], Tuple[bool, Optional[str]]],
+        item: QueueItem
+    ) -> None:
+        """Process a single queue item"""
+        try:
+            # Process the item
+            logger.info(f"Processing queue item: {item.url}")
+            item.start_processing()  # Start processing tracking
+            self.metrics.last_activity_time = time.time()  # Update activity time
+            
+            success, error = await processor(item)
+            
+            # Update metrics and status
+            async with self._processing_lock:
+                item.finish_processing(success, error)  # Update item status
+                
+                if success:
+                    self._completed[item.url] = item
+                    logger.info(f"Successfully processed: {item.url}")
+                else:
+                    if item.retry_count < self.max_retries:
+                        item.retry_count += 1
+                        item.status = "pending"
+                        item.last_retry = datetime.utcnow()
+                        item.priority = max(0, item.priority - 1)
+                        self._queue.append(item)
+                        logger.warning(f"Retrying: {item.url} (attempt {item.retry_count})")
+                    else:
+                        self._failed[item.url] = item
+                        logger.error(f"Failed after {self.max_retries} attempts: {item.url}")
+
+                self._processing.pop(item.url, None)
+                
+                # Update metrics
+                self.metrics.update(
+                    processing_time=item.processing_time,
+                    success=success,
+                    error=error
+                )
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error processing {item.url}: {e}")
+            async with self._processing_lock:
+                item.finish_processing(False, str(e))
+                self._failed[item.url] = item
+                self._processing.pop(item.url, None)
+                self.metrics.update(
+                    processing_time=item.processing_time,
+                    success=False,
+                    error=str(e)
+                )
+
     async def add_to_queue(
         self,
         url: str,