IT IS no surprise that people are running on low fuel these days . We ’ ve had to totally reinvent ourselves to accommodate this new virtual world , which may stay with us for a while . Daily in-person interactions have become screen connections . While there are good things about communicating through Zoom and other platforms , there are also downsides , including mental and physical fatigue . Keeping up with virtual interactions can be exhausting ! Here are some practical coping techniques . # 1 - PROLONGED EYE CONTACT
We are spending hours engaging in lengthy and close-up eye contact . When in-person , people randomly search the room , look up at the speaker , and take notes , ultimately reducing the amount of eye contact . Now we spend hours looking directly at faces without bodies , staring at ourselves while we talk . In a video call , the only way to show we are paying attention is to look at the camera . But pre-COVID , how often did you stand within three feet of a colleague and stare at his or her face ? Probably never since it feels unnatural .
Depending on your monitor size and how you are using an external monitor , faces on videoconferencing calls can appear too large for comfort . That , too , is unnatural , and our brains interpret it as intense , according to Professor Jeremy Bailenson , founding director of the
Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab .
Solution : Take Zoom out of the fullscreen option and reduce the size of the Zoom window relative to the monitor to minimize face size . You can also hide yourself from your view while allowing others to still see you . Check your settings .
To give your eyes a break , look away from your computer completely for a few seconds . Try to space virtual appointments out by 25 to 50 minutes to give yourself enough time to get up and move around and use the time between meetings to take a break from your screen . # 2 - MULTITASKING
Resist the urge to multitask during a virtual session . It ’ s easy to think that you can use the opportunity to do more in less time , but research shows that trying to do multiple things at once cuts into performance . Because you have to turn certain parts of your brain off and on for different types of work , switching between tasks can cost you as much as 40 % of your productive time . Researchers at Stanford found that people who multitask can ’ t remember things as well as their more singularly focused peers .
Solution : Minimize distractions on your computer by closing other windows and programs . Put your phone away and stay present . Remind yourself that the message you just got can wait 15 minutes and that you ’ ll be able to craft a better response when you aren ’ t also on a video chat . If you are already fatigued from using Zoom , avoid exhausting yourself further by attempting to multitask . # 3 - REDUCED MOBILITY
In-person and audio phone conversations allow us to walk and move around . However , with videoconferencing , most cameras have a set field of view , meaning you generally need to stay put . Movement is limited in ways that don ’ t feel natural , according to Professor Bailenson . He adds : “ There ’ s growing research now that says when people are moving , they ’ re performing better cognitively .”
Solution : Focus more on the room you are videoconferencing in , where the camera is positioned , and whether things like an external keyboard can help create distance or flexibility . For example , an external camera positioned farther away from the screen will allow you to stretch out and take notes like you do in real meetings . If you need to take a break during a virtual meeting , turn off the video feature for a moment to give yourself a brief , nonverbal rest .
Sources : Stanford researchers identify four causes for “ Zoom Fatigue ” and their simple fixes . news . stanford . edu / 2021 / 02 / 23 / four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions
Harvard Business Review : How to Combat Zoom Fatigue . hbr . org / 2020 / 04 / how-to-combat-zoom-fatigue
Harvard University : Minimizing Zoom Fatigue academicresourcecenter . harvard . edu / minimizing-zoom-fatigue
KRISTIN TENZIN
KRISTIN TENZIN , ASP , CWPC , is an Injury Prevention & Worksite Wellness Consultant for A . I . M . Mutual Insurance Companies . She has been in the safety field for over 10 years and enjoys working with companies to provide them with the resources they need to be successful in preventing on-the-job injuries . A Certified Wellness Program Coordinator through the Chapman Institute , Kristin also holds an Associate Safety Professional designation through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and a bachelor ’ s degree in Safety and Occupational Health Applied Sciences from Keene State College . Kristin is also a Nursing Home Prevention Specialist through the CDC .
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