Community Chatter: How are you dealing with “Zoom fatigue”?

No matter which video conferencing tool you use, the idea of “Zoom fatigue” is one that has been on people’s mind more and more lately. With the move for many to work/school/everything from home, chances are that your virtual calendar has become much busier the past few months, and you may be feeling the effects.

So what is it, exactly? Basically, it comes down to the fact that while video conferencing is a great way to keep in touch, it does require more effort on your part than traditional in-person meetings. There are more distractions to pull your focus; your brain has to work harder to pick up on nuances in tone, you see your own face on video and become hyper-aware of your microexpressions, technology issues can cause distractions when you can’t hear someone or there is an annoying echo whenever you speak, and let's not forget about the random walk-ons from pets, children, significant others, etc. And on top of all that, you have to pay attention so that you don’t miss out on important information!

Here are some of the things that we are doing to try and alleviate Zoom fatigue, make sure to let us know if they help you in the comments below:

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@Ami_D, Community Moderator

I was eager to jump on the Zoom train when we first went into lockdown. I had walking meetings with my colleagues, attended family dinners on a screen, had happy hour with friends. But, like most, Zoom fatigue hit fast and hard. I think the hardest thing for me is the awkward silences. The interruptions in normal cadence that come from having to fumble with a mute button, or the group-wait for someone to jump in to answer a question that was posed to everyone.

I think the biggest thing that helped me was to change my mindset around Zoom meetings, not as a replacement for being in person, but as an alternative. I know it sounds obvious, but it helps me let go of the feeling that it’s “not the same.” Because it isn’t! Knowing that it’s just a different way of communicating for now, well, that helps.

Part of this is just embracing the silences. Not feeling like I need to jump in with perfect timing or respond vocally to everything. I make heavy use of the “reactions” feature now, allowing me to celebrate, heart, or thumbs up something without ever having to touch the mute button. It really helps and actually feels more natural than unmuting myself to laugh appropriately. :D

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@CoreyDenis, Social & Community Senior Manager

When my video burnout started, it took me by surprise, but “Zoom Fatigue” is a real situation. I am in many meetings every day, working from home, and I’m usually on camera. Eight months ago, virtual backgrounds, filters, and after work “Zoom happy hours” helped me feel more connected to my team, my work, and my friends while socially distanced and working from home. And then the day came when I realized I was just. So. Exhausted. From. Being. On. Camera. All. Day. Long. In. So. Many. Meetings.

Something had to be done, so I made a few changes. I have started to attend meetings with the video off, just to give myself a break. It’s amazing how much better I feel when I’m productive in a meeting, but not on camera! I have also started calling either Saturday or Sunday “Video chat-free” day, which also works. But the ultimate remedy for me is the most obvious one: I implemented a fake commute to work. In the mornings, before work, I “commute” by leaving my home and taking a 30-60 minute walk outdoors. After work, I do the same thing; I “commute” home with another walk. Although the destination is the same, and home is now where all the work is, implementing a commute has helped me deal with the fatigue I feel in general during these unprecedented times. Coupled with giving myself permission to turn off the video camera in certain meetings, and I find myself feeling more energetic and a lot more productive.

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@LisaNullar, Community Manager
One of the biggest things that helped me was when I let myself choose not to be on camera for every meeting. I mentioned before that my workspace is the kitchen table, and I am sitting right in front of a big picture window so my camera always has issues with the amount of light that is shining behind me. Adding to that, my camera is off to my right so it’s a weird angle when I am looking at the presenter/speaker in a meeting because it looks like I’m looking off-screen at something else. I’m sure no one else notices it, but it bugs me.

In any case, when I am meeting with someone for the first time, or it’s someone that I haven’t been in a meeting with for a long time, then I will make the effort to be on camera. I do think it’s important to be able to put a face to a voice and I just feel like it’s only polite in this new digital world we are learning to navigate.  However, for my team that I have been working with for months/years? I will turn my camera on if I am feeling it that day, but otherwise?  Nope.  Not being on camera lets me focus more on the things we are talking about in the meeting, and is one less thing I need to stress about.

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Now it’s your turn… what tips do you have to make video calls a little bit easier?