„Zoom Fatigue“ is called Exhaustion syndrome, which has become widespread in recent months thanks to the coronavirus-related shift to working from home. Zoom fatigue, also known as Zoom sickness, is made up of the word Zoom, a digital tool for conducting video conferences, and the French word „fatigue“, which means „tiredness“.
This neologism is new and is due to the current coronavirus crisis. It means a lack of concentration or fatigue caused by frequent participation in video conferences and virtual meetings. Of course, it doesn't matter which platform is used. It is the virtual execution of remote meetings that is responsible for this Zoom fatigue. Whether you use MS Teams, WebEx, Skype, GoToMeeting or Zoom is irrelevant: Video conferences make you tired - more so than we know from face-to-face meetings.
What causes „home office sickness“?
Changed communication behavior makes people insecure:
An online video conference cannot be compared with a real-life meeting. Gestures and facial expressions, which play an important role in face-to-face contact and also convey non-verbal cues, completely lose their significance here. Body language is virtually unrecognizable in a digital meeting. This can lead to irritation and stress or zoom fatigue.
No small talk loosens up everyday life:
The lack of distance between meeting rooms makes it even more difficult for us. At face-to-face meetings, we usually have a bit of small talk beforehand. You don't normally do that in a video conference. There is also no casual debriefing. Instead, many people start the next video call straight away.
Private environment puts a strain on communication:
Working in your living room at home gives other participants an insight into your privacy. In addition, other people living in the apartment can cause unrest, which has a negative impact on your concentration and leads to distraction. The limited space of the home and the knowledge that the pandemic will continue to dominate your professional and private life for a long time to come cause anxiety, stress and general fatigue. This emotional strain can have an impact on your work.
Efficiency and speed suppress creativity :
Last but not least, online video conferencing is mostly about time efficiency and that demands a lot from us. It requires a lot of concentration. At the same time, it's a problem for meetings where you want to be creative and develop new ideas. Creative processes don't work quickly and efficiently. You have to be allowed to digress, which is almost never done in a video conference because they are supposed to be focused and productive.
5 tips for less stress during online meetings
Tip 1: Check whether a digital exchange is necessary
BEFORE Corona, we made a lot of phone calls and that worked wonderfully. SINCE Corona, almost every appointment is organized via MS Teams or Zoom invitation - and this almost forces us to always switch on the camera. Make a conscious decision as to which conversations can „just“ be held as a phone call. By consciously selecting the medium of a video call or „normal“ phone call, you can easily put a stop to Zoom fatigue! Your counterpart will thank you for it.
Tip 2: Plan breaks!
Just like in your usual working environment, you should also take breaks between meetings during video conferences. Breaks help you get fit again - get up and walk around a bit, stretch, drink a glass of water or move around a bit. Clear boundaries and short breaks are important. They create a buffer that helps us to concentrate better on another, new task. Especially if we are constantly moving back and forth between private and professional tasks when working from home. Bear this in mind for virtual meetings that last several hours. They are particularly stressful. To keep participants' attention for as long as possible, take shorter breaks of around 10 to 15 minutes.
Tip 3: Make sure that the technical equipment works
Make sure that your software and hardware is suitable for the digital meeting. A smooth exchange is only possible if the communication tool, webcam and headset are compatible.
Tip 4: Use the option to switch off the video
It is not always necessary for a video to run the whole time. This may be necessary and useful for meetings with fixed participants. Training sessions, where people often watch passively and there is less activity, should offer the option of switching off the video. Critics may argue that this reduces attention and everyone is busy with other things on the side. However, it is a fallacy to believe that the permanent presence of everyone also increases the commitment of each individual. Constantly seeing yourself online and live on the screen can lead to a lack of concentration for some people.
If you have the opportunity to pay attention to your own facial expression, clothing and appearance, you may be distracted. This can have a negative impact on the quality of the conversation. After all, in analog conversations you don't see yourself, but only the other person. This problem can be easily solved. Select the „hide me“ function on your video tool and you will no longer be able to see yourself. However, the person you are talking to can see you.
Tip 5: Create written records
You can improve your concentration and attention if you take notes during the conversation. It also helps you to remember what has been said.
For more tips on the subject of Zoom fatigue, please contact us by e-mail or via our Contact form.
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