How to Beat Zoom Fatigue

The search for the phrase "zoom fatigue" has been steadily climbing since March of 2020. If you are working from home, you most likely understand why this is happening. You're on meetings all day long, video calls, voice calls, and online hangouts platforms. Zoom has taken over as the new office for the majority of the working population.

If you feel like video calls are draining, you're not alone. According to the Harvard Business Review, a few things happen that make zoom fatigue a real thing:

• Video calls force you to focus harder to absorb information.
• It's easier to lose focus.
• All of the working from home scenarios split us in multiple directions, i.e., family, pet, delivery interruptions.
• Processing of information over video is different. To appear like you're paying attention, you must look directly at the camera. Not only is this exhausting, but you also end up too aware of every wrinkle, expression, and movement you make.

We have put together a list of things you can do to help reduce Zoom fatigue:

Avoid Multitasking Did you know that switching between tasks can cost you up to 40% of your productivity time, according to research done by Stanford. When people multitask, they don't retain as much as their singularly focused peers.

Make Voice Calls Don't default to video calls when you can pick up the phone and talk through something without the need for video.

Opt-In Options Any social sessions you have scheduled, make sure to allow people to opt-in to the video aspect. Please don't make it mandatory for everyone to join through video. To avoid being overwhelmed during a video conference, remember to appoint a facilitator to direct the call and questions.

Schedule breaks Take a break during the call. Minimize your screen. Look away. Just listen. Step away from the computer for a few moments now and again.

If you're on longer calls, allow others to turn off their cameras. Try to schedule meetings for 25 or 50 minutes so you can have 5-10 minutes for yourself after each call. You are not the only one going through this type of fatigue or video burnout, as some have called it. If you have more suggestions, we would love to hear how you've been handling your Zoom Fatigue.