Tired of Video Calls? 3 Ways to Combat Zoom Fatigue
While everyone knows that many meetings could just be an email, we’ve all been told to lean on digital connections face-to-face for so many months now that it’s easy to forget that this is still an option.
And knowing when to take a break from video calls is important because “Zoom fatigue” – the colloquial way people refer to negative side-effects caused by prolonged periods of time spent on video calls – has real impacts on mental wellness in the workplace.
In February 2021, Jeremy Bailenseon published a study of the phenomenon that Stanford University identifies as “the first peer-reviewed article that systematically deconstructs Zoom fatigue from a psychological perspective.”
This study is particularly helpful because Bailenson found four possible explanations for Zoom Fatigue, which can help professionals address this issue head-on:
Excessive amounts of close-up eye gaze
Cognitive load
Increased self-evaluation from staring at video of oneself
Constraints on physical mobility
Using this framework, here are three concrete strategies to help you cut down on video call time and the stress it may cause.
1. Don’t Default to Video on Calls
Unless you have a presentation to share or you haven’t caught up face-to-face in a while, there’s no reason to have a video call (other than if you want to).
To ensure you don’t wind up on a video call that could have been an email, review your Zoom etiquette and consider adding “video call” or “audio only” to your event name or to the description field accordingly. This will help set clear expectations before you sign in.
If you’re only touching base with one person, you can always send a calendar hold and offer to call someone at that time. Just be sure to confirm the number you plan to call (and call from) in advance to ensure you’re able to connect.
And of course, you can always declutter your schedule by requesting to swap out the call for an email. If someone has specific questions to ask that aren’t of a sensitive nature, this can be a great way to save you both time and get everyone the answers they need.
2. To Reduce Cognitive Load, Resist the Urge to Multitask during Calls
When you do need to join a video call, you can reduce your cognitive load by focusing on that call. The truth is that this applies to video and phone calls, but it’s most important when you’re on a live video where you’re expected to make eye contact and demonstrate engagement throughout.
So, give your undivided attention to the conversation, actively take notes, and keep your browser notifications on mute. Close other windows – seriously, that means Slack.
To stay engaged and alert, stand up, if this option is available to you. Changing your posture is a great way to keep yourself from feeling constrained by the grid of boxes on your browser.
3. Cultivate a Focused Space to Field the Video Calls You Do Take
Two of Bailenseon’s four causes of Zoom fatigue could be summarized as “too much close-up eye contact” – both with yourself and your counterparts.
To help limit this issue, you can hide your video from the display you have to look at, but you can also cultivate a focused space in your mind and in your office to make taking video calls less stressful.
By working in a private office with a closed door, using a reliable set of headphones with a microphone, and a set lighting display that you know will help you consistently present a polished front, you can more seamlessly shift from time on video to a relaxed hour of heads-down work.
Instead of thinking of video calls as a necessary annoyance, think of them as time to be productive. And if being on video doesn’t seem necessary to having a productive conversation, reach out in advance to communicate that you’ll be audio only.
Combat Zoom Fatigue by Advocating for the Communication Mode that Works for You
Don’t get caught up in someone else’s idea of the “new normal.” You know how many meetings you have in a day or week, and you know how many video calls in a day is too many.
Remember that your counterparts often don’t know your schedule and that you’re the only person positioned to advocate for protecting your professional time and energy. If you’re in the market for a private office space where you can cultivate the focus you need to be productive on and off video calls, book a tour of your local Firmspace today.
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash