Zoom Fatigue: A New Phenomenon and How to Combat It

It’s the end of a long day of calls after calls after calls. You notice your back is tight, and you are physically and emotionally exhausted. You decide to cancel your plans since you’re too tired to go out that night.

And when you try to unwind for the evening, you notice that you’re angry and find yourself snapping at everyone around you.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation and completely exhausted from all of those virtual calls? Constant video conferencing has caused us all to become burnt out, a condition known as Zoom fatigue.

What Is Zoom Fatigue?

Constant video calls create Zoom fatigue, a new work-from-home condition . Psychologists argue that the syndrome is growing more widespread in this new era of remote working, even though it is not an established diagnosis.

Unfortunately, based on a recent study, this condition has a more significant impact on women. Around 1 in 7 women (13.8%) reported feeling very weary after Zoom calls, compared to about 1 in 20 men (5.5%). The study included 10,322 participants. Zoom fatigue doesn’t just apply to Zoom, but any video conferencing platform, including Skype, Teams, GoToMeetings, Google Hangouts, etc. If our job requires us to attend many video chat sessions every day, it will eventually need more brain processing than face-to-face conversations.

The Symptoms 

Do you sometimes feel like you need a cup of coffee (or two) to get you through the day after one of your virtual meetings? If you are constantly on calls during the day, you will become exhausted.

So, how can you tell whether this is what you’re going through?

Be on the lookout for the following signs: 

• Headaches or migraines
• Anxiety 
• Back pain
• Eyestrain
• Exhaustion
• Low productivity
• Lack of concentration

Depending on who is facing the problem, the symptoms may differ. Some people may only have one or two symptoms, while others may have all of them.

The Causes

Professor Shuffler  believes that when people are in front of a camera, they need to act. We tend to stare at ourselves while we are on a call. This adds a new level of self-awareness to the equation. We spend a lot of energy on that performance because we don’t use body language and gestures as much as we would in face-to-face conversations.

Furthermore, some experts believe that delays in verbal responses during our conversations may harm our relationships. Even when our internet is working perfectly, there are still delays when we communicate with people, which hurts our brain.

We become more sedentary as well. We don’t need to stand up and go to the conference room to have a meeting. Our mental health is harmed by sitting in our chairs all day long.

How to Fight It?

The impacts and repercussions of Zoom fatigue are undeniably detrimental, but don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of pointers to help you get ready for your next video meeting.

1. Switch off your camera (if possible).

You don’t have to put on a happy face all of the time. If you feel seen throughout the video conference, you’re likely to become fatigued and distracted. If your company’s policy is that video meetings are preferred over voice meetings, you can talk with HR and management.

2. Don’t look at yourself.

Block the self-view option if you have to turn on your camera. It’s possible that watching ourselves talk and use gestures will make us uncomfortable. Cover the self-view with a post-it note or a piece of paper if you can’t close it.

3. Limit your calls.

A simple message can sometimes suffice, especially for more casual check-ins. If a video call is required, we should always set a time restriction and stick to it.

4. Use different tools.

Consider using video calling apps for work if you frequently use Zoom for personal matters. These tools will help you avoid staring at the same user interface all day, and you can use them for more than just video calls. You can also use them to send text messages and avoid videos as much as possible.

• Phone – Pick up the phone instead of scheduling virtual meetings.
• Email – Instead of scheduling another Zoom call, send a quick email.
• Chat apps– Messaging apps are a terrific way to remain in touch with coworkers and share information. Perhaps, text messages would not exhaust you as much as video calls. 

5. Don’t try to multitask.

As I previously stated, we’ve all been tempted to do anything else during video meetings, but doing so is never a brilliant idea. Multitasking uses up energy, making you tired and less productive at work because your ability to focus is impaired. Remove all distractions, including your phone, and keep your browsers closed.

6. Establish a “no-meeting” time.

Feel free to pull out your calendar and block out time for working. Another option is to divide your day into two halves, one for work and meetings. This will prevent you from becoming burnt out on a single task.

7. Stretch.

We don’t get the chance to extend our legs during video chats, which is one of the reasons they are exhausting. If you can turn off your camera and wander about the room, or better yet, grab your headphones and walk around your neighborhood. This will give you a respite and alleviate the weariness caused by staring at a screen.

8. Chatting is not a waste of time.

Many people are hesitant to speak about topics that are not on the agenda. Small talk and a joke or two, as if you were meeting in person, help to make things more humane. I’m not suggesting that you convert every meeting into a Friday after-work party, but a hearty chuckle can’t hurt.

9. Refuse video calls.

This isn’t easy, but remember that not all video calls are beneficial to you. You can try to find out what the meeting’s purpose is and what they need to discuss from the organizer. That way, you can assess whether or not the meeting is worthwhile.

10. Have a day without meetings.

There’s a good chance you’re not the only one who’s tired of all those video calls. Establish a no-meeting day during the week and take some time off with your coworkers and management. This will allow you to concentrate on your work rather than squeeze them in between meetings.

Deal With Zoom Fatigue

Video calls aren’t going away anytime soon, but Zoom fatigue is. These methods will assist you in developing a working routine. You’ll quickly realize that video calls are a productivity tool and not a hindrance. If you follow the tips above, you should decrease the symptoms of Zoom fatigue and possibly even increase your productivity. These small changes will make your video meetings less daunting and more fun.

I want to stress that we’re all feeling a little vulnerable, worried, and afraid right now. So the best thing we can do is practice patience and communicate with one another. Let us all try to understand each other better and evaluate what works best for our coworkers and us.

Mia Naumoska is a Chief Marketing Officer atChanty.

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