Zoom Fatigue
We’re all exhausted with the “new normal” of constant Zoom meetings, FaceTimes, webinars, and virtual happy hours.
Research shows that video calls are more exhausting than in-person meetings, in part because they overload our brains:
“Being on a video call requires more focus than a face-to-face chat. Video chats mean we need to work harder to process non-verbal cues like facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, and body language; paying more attention to these consumes a lot of energy...Our minds are together when our bodies feel we're not. That dissonance, which causes people to have conflicting feelings, is exhausting. You cannot relax into the conversation naturally.” - Gianpiero Petriglieri (read more at the BBC!)
Practicing social distancing has everyone craving social connections; but socializing has never looked so unfamiliar. We are now all connected and separated, simultaneously. We can’t hug or travel to visit the ones we love, but we can talk their ears off!
That said, we can’t blame Zoom for all of our troubles; we’re living through an incredibly stressful, isolating and traumatic time.
In some ways, the pressure is even higher to be constantly available to friends, family, and co-workers. I am lonely, exhausted from too many video calls, and struggling to buckle down and be my “best self” by learning another language, guitar or even sticking to healthy habits. I’ve had more cookies for dinner than ever before - not something I’m proud of! I’ve also found my usually “healthy” friends also struggling with health and fitness, while my friends that never workout are eating healthy and working out. Meanwhile, I can’t seem to take even a virtual yoga class (I hate this episode of Black Mirror - is it over yet?!).
So how in the world can you combat this? Well, next chance you get, move more of your Zoom meetings to conference calls, especially if the nuance of body language isn’t critical to your conversation. A few easy tips from team ELE!
5 Ways to Combat Fatigue in the “New Normal”:
Boundaries are key! Give yourself permission to “sign-off”. You do not have to be available to everyone, at all times!
Resist the idea that you have to use this time to learn something new, or to improve in some way. We’re in a global pandemic, give yourself the gift of time.
Make sure you do at least one thing everyday that feels restorative to you! Maybe it’s watching Too Hot to Handle for six hours, that’s your business.
Get your eyes off the screen! Exercise, walk the dog and look at some trees.
Don’t feel pressure to watch something live, you can always catch the replay!
Above all else, be patient with yourself! It’s OK to have cookies for dinner sometimes as long as you don’t forget this is a special lockdown treat and not the “new normal.”
Struggling with motivation? Check out this Psychology Today article on “How to Stop Wasting Time During COVID,” but again, be patient with yourself! This is a pandemic and it’s extremely depressing and stressful. Times are not normal. You already have everything you need to be you - and that’s a beautiful thing.
