Zoom Fatigue: Causes and Solutions

     Pandemic, work from home, and online meetings have became daily routines for workers these days. Even though workers can do their tasks at home or perhaps attending a meeting while on their comfortable couch, there always chance workers are eventually getting tired. 

     One of the common workers' drawback during the pandemic is Zoom fatigue. Zoom fatigue is a feeling of fatigue and anxiety because of having too many online meetings. Despite being called Zoom fatigue, this symptom found in all online meeting platforms.

     National Geographic reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had proven what had been predicted: virtual interactions can be very tiring for the brain.

     People are surprised by how difficult it can be to have video calls confined to a small screen and troubled by many distractions.

     A professor of religious studies, Jodi Eichler-Levine for example, admitted that he was exhausted after teaching online classes via Zoom. He immediately fell asleep in his office afterwards. 

     Many Indonesian people also experience Zoom fatigue symptoms, as revealed by Rosdiana Setyaningrum, the Center Director of MS School & Wellbeing Center.

     Before the pandemic, it was estimated that 70 percent of social activities is face-to-face interaction. However, after the pandemic, things changed otherwise. Currently, almost 70 percent of social activities are online.

     If you are frequently doing video conference, it can make you stuck in fatigue. The causes of fatigue are sitting too long in front of the computer, being center of attention that can create a feeling of pressure, the audio or visual delay, and staring your own face in front of the camera that can make you more sensitive to your appearance. 

     Then how can you solve Zoom fatigue? Try the following lists: 

1. Do not hesitate to leave the meeting

     Determine the priority of the meeting that you will attend. Don't forget to get rest before attending the next meeting.

     If the first meeting is almost done, you can ask permission to leave earlier for the next meeting. Hopefully, you can have a little time to prepare for the next meeting.

2. Choose a wireless earphone

     To reduce fatigue from sitting too long, you can use a wireless earphone, such as a bluetooth headset. This way, you can talk while standing or walking.

     You can also set or use other camera types to show your face even when you are not in front of a computer screen. Also, make sure that your internet connection is good enough to avoid audio or visual delay.

3. Avoid attention by turning off the camera

     We all have different work environments or work culture during working from home. If there is no responsibility to turn on the camera, you can turn it off. By doing this, you don't have to worry about being the center of attention continuously.