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Another source of stress is that, depending on your monitor size and whether you’re using an external monitor, faces on videoconferencing calls can appear too large for comfort. It forces you to focus on the essential things and be mindful of how often your phone or computer is buzzing or ringing. Taking short breaks can help clear your mind and help you feel less tired throughout the day, and help take care of your mental health. The cognitive workload linked to video calling is higher than it is for in-person meetings. In general, when you’re on a video call, you might spend most of your own time staring at your own face. If you’re sharing information that doesn’t require feedback from your team members, then don’t hold a meeting; record a video.
When you have so many tasks on your to-do list, you may be tempted to catch up whenever you have the chance. Unfortunately, this pressure often results in teammates multitasking during meetings. Unfortunately, multitasking is known to reduce employee performance by up to 40%, according to a study conducted by the Association for Psychological Science.
Reduce the regularity of video calls
There will always be meetings that you can’t get out of attending, but there are ones that you cannot pass on either. Simple apologies go a long way if you need to switch the video off and you absolutely a recording at later times. Taking time offto increase productivity and reduce the occurrence of Zoom fatigue. Employee burnout, which is characterized by exhaustion in the workplace, which Zoom fatigue can also cause. By being sure to eat the right amount of healthy foods and get enough sleep, you prepare your body to handle the stress of the day.
Turn off your camera for a few moments so you can get up and move around. Exercise your eyes by looking at objects at different distances from you. It’s also best not to use video if you have to take a call outside the office, as this can make the situation stressful and counterproductive. Reduce stimuli on the screen by keeping your Zoom window on speaker view and closing all other programs and browser windows. It’s easy to get distracted in Zoom meetings — there’s so much happening on the screen.
Time Spent in Banter is Not Time Spent in Vain 🖖
It’s one thing to swap into urgent mode quickly while I am at my desk, but switching gears constantly while working within the walls of my own home can be hard at times. Zoom meetings may be stressful, even more so when pressing and/or critical issues are on the agenda. Whatever the meeting’s purpose, it’s a good idea to take a few moments before signing on to re-center yourself in preparation for the event. Allow yourself time to clear your thoughts of distractions and preoccupations — or at the very least to temporarily store them in a “parking lot” for later contemplation.
- After all, you can see each other’s gestures and other nonverbal cues.
- Instead, we recommend cutting calls down to 30 minutes or less.
- This is not an invitation to start doing something else, but to let your eyes rest for a moment.
This is one of the most common remote working fatigue, which means you can’t do it anymore. You know you’re tired and exhausted and want to close your computer. Sometimes, when people are stressed out, they will fall asleep during a meeting. This is very rude in some cultures and often reflects negatively on the person who falls asleep. These non verbal things are so much attached with our corporate life which you can not replace with anything else from home.
Establish ‘No Meeting’ Time Blocks
Some people with Zoom fatigue may also start expressing their reluctance to take further video calls. They might try to reschedule Zoom meetings or request email exchanges and in-person meetings instead – anything to avoid more video calls. As we noted above, the primary symptom is a deep sense of tiredness.
- Zoom has an interactive polling feature, which allows meeting hosts to schedule polls that teammates can answer during the meeting.
- By using backgrounds on Zoom, you can appear as if you are sitting on a beach, cafe, or nicely decorated office.
- Give yourself more space by using wireless earphones, keyboard, and mouse.
- While vaccine rollouts from bothPfizerandModernaare underway, we are still months from returning safely to pre-COVID socializing.
- If you don’t have a home office, design a makeshift space for yourself that serves as your office and your office only.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. This is rooted in how white supremacy, fatphobia, and sexism tend to intersect in the workplace. If you or your loved one are ready to connect with our team of compassionate professionals, we’re here for you. Moving and challenging your body will help you stay physically fit while it calms your emotions. After exercise, you think more clearly, feel increased energy and motivation, and work more productively, too.