Digital Smarts - How to Combat Zoom Fatigue

Zoom fatigue is real, according to Géraldine Fauville, an assistant professor at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, who is part of a team of researchers studying the causes of video conferencing fatigue to better understand how to combat it. She says that “During video conferences, you have this impression that everyone on the screen is staring directly at you, so you have this feeling of being constantly the center of attention and that is just stressful in general, especially for long periods of time.” 

What can you do to counteract it?

• Try turning off your camera. Students should let teachers know if they feel they need to take a break. Teachers should also consider requiring cameras on only when it really adds something. If it’s not essential to see one another during the whole class, then maybe teachers should consider letting students disable the camera.
• Take a break from the video feed. Fauville recommends shrinking the size of your video conferencing window so it’s not taking up your full screen. It can also be a good idea to focus on something other than your screen periodically by turning your body away from your camera and monitor.
• Create a setup that encourages movement. Fauville says standing desks can help with mobility on video calls. You can walk in place and even pace back and forth a bit. Setting up your camera further away from you so that it captures more of the room can also allow you to move more without fear of going off frame. An external keyboard can help you sit further away as well, which can encourage movement and put more distance between you and your screen, decreasing the intensity of the eye contact your brain perceives from other participants.