“How many more times will I hear ‘I think you’re still on mute!’ before this is all over?” This is a question I’ve started asking myself a lot lately.
COVID-19 is still keeping millions of Americans working from home. I’m blessed and privileged to still be working, and I remind myself of that every single day. But that doesn’t mean working from home still doesn’t come with challenges – one of them being so-called Zoom Fatigue.
Platforms like Zoom, and the newly rechristened Google Meet, have become a daily staple in the world of work from home, helping teams maintain communications and adding a personal touch to day-to-day functions. But this regular face-to-face interaction comes with consequences; after a day of several hour-long Zoom meetings, you may find yourself completely zapped of energy. But why?
Zoom Fatigue comes from a variety of factors. One is detailed in a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies – the roughly 1.2 second lag on the phone and video conferencing platforms makes people responding to you seem less friendly and less focused. It’s safe to say we’ve all been frustrated by lags and glitches in video calls. Add this on to the constant knowledge that people are watching you, and to the fact that you keep seeing the zit that just showed up on your face in the little screen of yourself. Not to mention the constant feeling that if you aren’t looking in the direction of your computer’s camera it might seem like you’re not paying attention. It all piles on to the stress and anxiety you’re already feeling because we’re facing an unprecedented worldwide pandemic. So I say, give yourself some grace.
There are things you and your coworkers can do to ease the effects of Zoom Fatigue:
- Hold a Zoom meeting where you all agree to turn off your cameras, or just take turns turning your camera on when it’s your turn to talk or present.
- If you get to the end of the day and have one more meeting, ask the person you’re meeting if they’re OK with a phone call instead of a video chat.
- Take breaks! If you have time in between meetings get up and do some stretches, or maybe a few pushups. Wash a few of those dishes piling up in the sink. Take 15-30 minutes to go outside on a nice day – take the dog for a walk, or head to a nearby park for some nature therapy!
Once the workday is over and your friends or family want to video chat, only do it if you really want to! Better yet, consider writing and mailing them a letter or postcard. The effort of putting pen to paper and writing out your thoughts and feelings to someone you care about is a pretty amazing show of affection. Plus, who doesn’t love getting personal mail?
Moral of the story, folks – take care of yourself! You’re no good to your coworkers, your friends, your family, or yourself if you are suffering mentally! Self-love and self-care are crucial acts, not just during a pandemic, but always!
Joe Perin is an Ohio native who found a home in Indy by way of Butler University where he graduated in 2015 with a degree in journalism. Joe works to support the burgeoning tech ecosystem in Indy as a part of the TechPoint team; he has previously worked for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as the Indianapolis City Market. He’s passionate about Indy, loves celebrating what makes it a great place, and likes working promoting the things that will make it a better, more equitable city for all!
