Zoom Fatigue symptoms and how can you fight back against it to enhance productivity in 2022

Zoom fatigue is exactly what it sounds like—exhaustion brought on by the rise in video conferencing requirements that a pandemic around the world forced upon many people. It can be difficult to feel as though you spend your whole life online, even though being able to manage work remotely and safely stay in touch with friends and family is crucial.

Given that remote work is probably here to stay in some form, it's critical to evaluate how you use video conferences in order to prevent burnout. Without completely giving up your camera, there are solutions to combat Zoom Fatigue.

There are other suggestions for making Zoom meetings more tolerable, such as shortening them, scheduling breaks, and disabling video. All of them are helpful, but they might be challenging to put into practice when your attendance is required. As we all know, this is frequently out of our control. In an ideal world, there would be regular breaks and optional video settings.

So, if you're looking for tips on how to avoid or at least lessen the strain on your mental and physical energies that occurs when you simply cannot leave a Zoom conference, keep reading.

Reasons for Zoom Fatigue

A 2008 study indicated that using video conferencing to communicate makes participants' cognitive demands higher. They must arrange the conference call in addition to using technology to simulate eye contact while trying to understand what the other person is saying. Combining all of these tasks together may cause mental fatigue. 

While further research is required, a 2021 article in Technology, Mind, and Behavior journal offered four potential explanations for Zoom weariness.Other mentally taxing aspects of video conferencing include up-close eye gazing, less mobility because of the need to be in the camera's field of view, and the effects of looking at oneself. These factors are similar to the 2008 finding and go along with the cognitive load associated with giving and receiving nonverbal cues on camera.

These are the more general reasons why Zoom Fatigue actually occurs:

Your eyes are always on the screen

Both the quantity of eyes on you and the size of the faces on the screen are odd in a video meeting.You wouldn't make as much eye contact with other guests in a face-to-face meeting. People would glance at their phones or notebooks, the speaker, and other attendees in the room.

In contrast, everyone in a Zoom conference is continually looking at one another. In addition, the size of their features creates the sensation that they are nearby.

Physical proximity is seen by our brains as being in a stressful scenario. Usually, it signals that we're about to mate or engage in conflict. This explains why individuals avoid looking at each other in elevators.

You are fixed in one place

It is required of us that maintain a clean line of sight throughout the video call. This takes standing stationary for a length of time that is not natural.

People can walk around freely during face-to-face meetings without losing track of the topic. In fact, studies suggest that moving around fosters creativity and improves communication.

You can walk around freely and carry out other tasks while on an audio call without losing track of the chat.

We limit our ability to think and talk freely by confining ourselves to the confines of our computer displays.

Cognitive load more than what you can actually take

According to Bailenson, nonverbal communication occurs frequently in face-to-face interactions and each of us subconsciously makes and understands gestures and nonverbal signs. However, it takes more effort to send and receive signals during video chats.

In essence, a face-to-face interaction, according to Bailenson, has been changed by humans into something that requires a lot of thought: "You've got to make sure that your head is framed within the center of the video. You need to give a big nod or give a thumbs up to someone to indicate that you agree with them. This increases the cognitive burden because communicating requires mental energy.

Symptoms of Zoom Fatigue that you need to know

Please don't use these Zoom tiredness symptoms to rule out a real sickness, much like self-diagnosing anything online.

Symptoms of zoom fatigue include:

• Exhaustion in between calls.

• Feeling more exhausted than normal towards the conclusion of your workday

• Not paying attention in sessions because you are daydreaming

• Sweating or overheating while on calls

• Without any prior history of eye strain or inflammation

• Regular migraines or headaches

• Ongoing sensation of fatigue

• Fear of activating your camera

Tips and tricks to fight back against Zoom Fatigue

Don’t multitask while you are on Zoom

While it may be tempting to try to accomplish more in less time, research indicates that attempting to multitask has a negative impact on performance. Switching between projects might cost you up to 40% of your productive time since different forms of work require you to switch off and on different sections of your brain. Researchers at Stanford discovered that multitaskers perform less well on memory tests than their more narrowly focused colleagues. The next time you're on a video chat, put your phone aside, dismiss any tabs or applications that might be a distraction (like Slack or your inbox), and try to stay focused. The Slack message you just received can wait 15 minutes, and you'll be able to compose a better response when you're not also on a video chat, try to remind yourself (we know it's hard).

Switch to other Alternatives such as phone or email

It's easy to overlook traditional phone calls and emails in this era of Zoom.

Consider whether a video meeting is required before filling up your Zoom meeting schedule. You might be able to find a solution by using a different route of communication.

You might want to offer an audio call or reschedule it if you're worn out after spending all day in front of a screen.

If you have to take a call outside of the office, it's also better to avoid using video because it can be stressful and unproductive.

Get yourself short breaks

People would benefit from scheduling brief breaks for themselves because engaging in the cognitive demands of video conferencing conversation can be draining.

People typically have to travel between locations when they attend meetings in person, which allows for some downtime in between sessions. Therefore, it is important to incorporate brief breaks into remote working arrangements.

Before and after video conference conversations, getting up, stretching, and practicing deep breathing may also be helpful. If you have any control over meeting schedules, make sure you schedule time for those crucial mental breaks.

Minimizing the Zoom screen itself to prevent load

Jeremy Bailenson, a professor at Stanford, claims that video conferencing is comparable to having a close-up conversation with someone who is only two feet away from you. This proximity is known as the intimate distance and is typically used for making love, providing comfort, and providing protection While we're content (most of the time) to let our loved ones into this private place, we feel uneasy when someone from outside this little circle do so. Sometimes it can seem like we are under attack. The fight or flight reaction can also be triggered by being 2 feet away from someone, as this distance and position are similar to those in a physical altercation. Therefore, reduce the Zoom screen's size to make them appear farther away to calm everything down.When you don't need to refer to any other windows, have a straightforward and peaceful screensaver running in the background.

Make use of virtual backgrounds

Virtual backgrounds are a terrific method to give the impression that the meeting location has changed. Your background could be a lovely location, like Italy, a well-furnished office, or even your business logo! Another excellent way to break the ice and personalize the meeting is using a virtual backdrop.

Keep the sessions open

It's normal to feel exhausted after a long day of nonstop video conversations, especially if you're an introvert. Virtual social gatherings should continue to be opt-in, which means that whoever is hosting them makes it clear that attendees are invited but not required to attend. If a sizable group is anticipated, you should also think about selecting a facilitator. This individual can start by posing a question, then clarify the speaking order so that everyone has a chance to be heard and the group doesn't begin speaking all at once. If we don't know what is expected of us or if we are continuously attempting to determine whether we should or shouldn't speak up, it is simple to become overburdened.