How To Address the Fatigue Caused by Staring at the Camera All Day?

And If All Else Fails, Mix It Up and Use a Phone

“All you gotta do is pick up the telephone and dial now

6–3–4–5–7–8–9 (that’s my number!).”

from 634–5789 by Wilson Pickett

In my role as a matchmaker, connecting people all across North America, I spend my days on video calls. Name a platform, and I have most likely used it. A typical day would include 8 to 10 pre-scheduled Zoom calls between 20 and 90 minutes long, as well as a handful of situational phone calls.

I have grown to prefer calls that include the video component over those that are voice only. I feel that it gives the added dimension of body language to the conversation, especially important because 93% of our communication is non-verbal. When it comes to video calls, while the fundamentals of body language are the same as in physical meetings, the specifics change.

How many video calls have you been on where there was something in the screen presence of the other person that detracted from their message? Any one of those detractors takes away from the message: Technical issues, bad sound quality, bad lighting, distracting background, a person/dog/cat walking in, doorbell ringing, cell phone buzzing, …

Recently I came across a great article by Bob Hutchins on Zoom fatigue. While I can genuinely say that a day of 10 video calls does not leave me more tired than a day on a trade show floor, I found his description of the phenomenon and his remedies very interesting.

On Wikipedia, Zoom fatigue is defined as “tiredness, worry or burnout associated with the overuse of virtual platforms of communication, particularly video conferencing.” The name seems to be derived from the cloud-based videoconferencing and online chat software Zoom, even if it used to also refer to non-Zoom video conferencing platforms (Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.).

The term was popularized during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in which the use of videoconferencing software for people to talk to and communicate with others whilst they stayed at home increased dramatically.

According to Wikipedia, the phenomenon of Zoom fatigue has been attributed to an overload of nonverbal cues and communication that does not happen in an in-person conversation and the increased average size of groups in video calls.

In his article, Bob Hutchins describes this in more detail:

“On a video call, we only have access to visual stimuli, which makes us feel very uncomfortable as it forces us into “constant gaze,” essentially being forced into staring at someone’s face for an extended period of time. This feels unnatural and tiring because, in reality, people don’t usually stand within three feet of one another while making eye contact.

This phenomenon is known as “zoom fatigue” and the “zoom lens” is essentially “forcing us to stare at one another.” In addition, the “zoom lens” also forces speakers and listeners to “face each other straight on,” which makes it difficult for people who are trying to have a conversation.

This feeling of discomfort can lead to increased thoughts about how you look, which will give you a case of “the nerves.” When over prolonged exposure to this mode, our brains’ visual processing system starts working overtime. Thus, fatigue sets in.”

In an article I wrote a while back, I provided tips on best practices to be used during video calls. They were meant to allow the reader to put their best foot forward and recognize the role body language plays in a Zoom call. In short, those best practices are:

1. Dress for success — Taking the time to look and feel your best.

2. Use hand gestures — People who use their hands are seen as more warm, agreeable, and energetic.

3. Sit back from the camera so the client can actually see your gestures…

4. … and don’t use sudden gestures

5. Look into the camera — This helps to build trust and rapport.

6. Ensure even lighting — And if you are wearing glasses like I do make sure the reflections are minimal.

7. Don’t look down — and don’t look around the room.

8. Sit straight to project energy

9. Calm your nerves by avoiding face-touching

10. Facial Expression — Don’t forget the power of a genuine smile.

11. Camera Positioning — The ideal framing of your body on the screen does include the torso.

12. Background — Avoid a background that becomes a distraction.

13. Do not obsess over your appearance

Bob has a few additional tips that also help with the aspect of fatigue:

1. Stop multitasking while on Zoom calls. — “The more we do, the less well we do it. If you are looking up reference materials or reading notes while on Zoom to stay current, you will continue to experience fatigue.”

2. Take frequent breaks. “For calls that will go longer than an hour or more, take a few mins away from the screen every 30 to 45 mins. Encourage the other participants to do the same.”

3. Turn off your own image window. “You can focus on the content and the other speakers instead of yourself.”

Zoom fatigue is a real thing. If all those tips don’t seem to help, try to mix it up. For some calls, you likely do not control the format; someone else does. But for those where you do, try other formats: a traditional phone call, mutually agreeing to turn the camera off, maybe using an email to share a concise viewpoint, or doing video calls standing up where you can more easily back off and create more distance to the camera.

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Bob Hutchins — What is “Zoom fatigue”? And tips to help ease it

Steve Rangoussis — How To Combat Zoom Fatigue

Photo of the author

Originally published at https://www.vendux.org on January 27, 2022.