A new study of an expert from Stanford University revealed that zoom video communication leads to burnout or "zoom fatigue," which is often ignored and considered as simple exhaustion. The researcher said that it is possible that your feeling of tiredness is caused by four key factors.
Why Do You Feel 'Zoom Fatigue' During Video Call Meetings?
According to a report written by Vignesh Ramachandran of Stanford News, the author of the study, Jeremy Bailenson said that there are four factors that contribute to the burnout that you are experiencing during the virtual conference.
1. Too Much Eye-Contact During the Meeting
Having eye contact next to the screen paves the way for you to feel a certain kind of fatigue during online meetings because we perceive the faces on-screen as unnatural.
Take a look at this example. When you are physically listening to the speakers, you pay attention to them by looking at their faces while jotting down notes. Zoom meetings, however, are different compared to it.
When a speaker presents during the meeting, the level of your eye contact with other participants expands. For Bailenson, it is a stressful moment for someone who is not fond of speaking in front of many people, so there is an uncomfortable feeling that is experienced.
The monitor size of your computer is also a contributor to the 'zoom fatigue' that you are suffering from since our brain perceives the size of the faces to be conflicting when compared to their real-life counterparts.
To solve this problem, Bailenson recommended that a person should diminish the size of the screen which comes at par with the size of the face of the participants during the video calls. He also added that using an external keyboard will ease a 'personal space' between you and the screen.
2. Looking at Yourself During the Video Calls
Bailenson said that it is crazy when you see yourself on the platform while talking to another person. He mentioned that such reflection has an impact on the person, citing that it might trigger negative emotions.
Furthermore, the expert suggested that video platforms should devise the feature of beaming the video not only for the person but also for the other involved individuals. Moreover, Bailenson continued that it is also better if you hide yourself in the video while talking
3. Your Movement is Limited
During video calls, a person is only stationary on a chair as the meeting progresses. It is something that sets it different from the usual phone calls and personal communication.
Bailenson stated that a movement suggests that a person could think much better compared to when he/she is idle in a single position for a prolonged amount of time.
To address the issue, he recommended that a camera could be placed farther so there is an allowance for movement. In addition, a person can also rest by turning off the video for a while.
4. Too Much Thinking on Zoom
Bailenson said that non-verbal communication is just normal during physical interaction. However, in the case of Zoom meetings, it strays sideways as the gestures will not be interpreted easily by a person.
For instance, your cognitive thinking might be affected since thinking of the meaning of a signal can be tricky sometimes. In virtual meetings, gestures could give you a different meaning.
To solve the problem, try to communicate without the video, and only using audio. This will give you a short rest from the virtual communication away from the screen.
Bailenson stated that some gestures are recognized unrealistically instead of perceiving them as an actual channel of communication.
You can access the full study by visiting Technology, Mind, and Behavior.
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Written by Joen Coronel
