Over the last year, you have most likely had to learn to adapt to your work life being completely virtual. If this new dynamic has left you feeling especially exhausted, you are not alone. In a new article published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, a new study explains that so-called “Zoom fatigue” is a very real occurrence that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have been on constant video chat meetings for the last year, you might have felt increasing levels of exhaustion due to these encounters. However, there are ways to help this feeling while still allowing for productivity to persist.
Study author Andrew A. Bennett explains, “We conducted this study because we felt this fatigue that was happening by being on videoconferences.” In the study, 55 employees in a variety of fields took nine hourly surveys every day for five consecutive working days in 2020. They completed a total of 1,746 surveys in total, and only about 7% of the participants didn’t report any signs of “Zoom fatigue”. It was also discovered that participants with multiple virtual meetings were especially tired. Typically, levels of exhaustion were lower in the mornings, and increased notably during the afternoon and early evening.
People who took part in the study mentioned that the tiredness stemmed from sustained attention. They mentioned that it feels like there is some expectation to look at the camera and pay complete attention when their cameras are on. Another possible root for exhaustion might be the pressure to attempt to make personal connections in a very impersonal situation. Video conferences are especially impersonal, due to the fact that everyone is simply ready to hang up and begin their next meeting. In a real life meeting, there would be natural chatter before and after.
“Zoom fatigue” is real, but there are helpful ways to reduce this feeling. Firstly, try to have meetings at the right time of day. In this particular study, participants worked 9-to-5 type jobs and had been in an office setting before the pandemic. For these people, a videoconference in the middle of the day was okay, but they were much more fatigued than normal after a virtual meeting later in the afternoon. Second, mute your microphone when you are not speaking. This helps reduce distractions for others, and also will spare you some stress that others can hear things in your home. Lastly, it is incredibly helpful to feel part of the group you’re in. Participants that felt like they truly belonged amongst their coworkers within the videoconferences experienced a lower level of fatigue after each meeting.
You might still be adapting to this new way of living, and that is completely okay. Working with this new system still might be giving you new challenges, and it’s alright to still be in the process of learning how to deal with it. If you are working remotely, remember that it is still important to make personal connections and stay connected with your coworkers. Most importantly, remember to take a break. Make time each day to be away from a screen and do something you enjoy. Even a brief moment away can reduce video conference induced fatigue. Remember that productivity is not only measured by completed work tasks, but also your personal level of happiness. You are doing amazing, do not stress about taking necessary time for yourself.