The Fight Against Zoom Fatigue
By Guest Author Kaelyn Schulz
In our “New Normal,” remote and hybrid work from home is here to stay, which means we will continue to use technology to connect with clients and colleagues in our post-pandemic world. As we embrace an online workspace, we also have a new co-worker, Videoconferencing Fatigue, a.k.a Zoom Fatigue.
What is Zoom Fatigue?
While Zoom has dominated the videoconferencing market, any video chat platform can have the same draining results on users. Zoom Fatigue is characterized by the feeling of tiredness and burnout caused by being on camera for prolonged periods. It can zap the bubbliest extrovert and is especially draining for introverted personalities.
You may assume a controlled, at-home video call would be an introvert’s dream, but excessive eye contact, close-up images, self-screen view, and reduced mobility take a toll. Extroverts do not have it much better. Video conferencing reduces the amount of water-cooler conversation many extroverts use to bond; screens only capture faces cropping out social non-verbal cues like hands, sitting style, gestures, and silence, or being muted is now interpreted as disinterest versus a natural pause to a conversation. As it turns out, no personality type is protected from the consequences of video-chat overload.
Fortunately, there are common Zoom Fatigue causes and remedies you can implement.
- Hide self-view. Right-click on your photo to select the “hide self-view” button. Seeing yourself during a meeting can make you feel self-conscious. When we see images of ourselves, we tend to get overly critical. Watching yourself speak, react, sit still, etc. is anxiety-provoking and makes you feel like a solo presenter instead of a contributor to a conversation.
- Minimize the Zoom screen to one-third the size of your monitor. Take Zoom out of full-screen and reduce the Zoom window. Even better, move the video screen to an external monitor to give more space between you and the screen. Direct eye contact is draining, and too much of it is unnatural. Additionally, when images are overly large, they mimic the sensation that someone is in your personal space.
- Move Around. Set your camera at a distance and create a work-appropriate background space to move in. You automatically work to stay in the frame when the camera is on. Sometimes we have a limited area of the room behind us we want seen. All of this can mean tense muscles and a frozen position for hours. If you can, set your camera at a distance or use an external camera so you can move around and stand up.
- Turn the camera off and go audio-only. Have a professional headshot saved as your non-video participate screen. Sometimes you need a break from being seen. Going unseen does not mean being unheard; consider other ways to add to the conversation like using the chat box, emojis, and “+1” affirmations.
- Limit the number of meetings Ask yourself, “Can this conversation be an email, phone call, or text chat?”. Video conferencing is an excellent remote work tool, but it does not need to be used every meeting. Additionally, we should feel free to set boundaries on the calendar with “No Meeting” blocks to dedicate to email and work and take a break from meetings, video or not.
If you are curious where you fall on the spectrum of Zoom Fatigue, complete this Stanford 15-item questionnaire and see how your experience measures against 500+ participants collected over the past year.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What does Zoom Fatigue feel like for you? How do you recover?
Any advice on additional ways to reduce Zoom Fatigue you can share?
As an introvert/ extrovert, what benefits does Zoom bring to you?
REFERENCES:
Granneman, J. (2020, April 30). Why zoom calls are so draining for introverts. IntrovertDear.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://introvertdear.com/news/why-zoom-calls-are-draining-for-introverts/
Kenn, B. (2022, April 27). An introvert’s musings on Zoom Fatigue. Zoom Blog. Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://blog.zoom.us/introverts-musings-on-zoom-fatigue/
Ramachandran,V. (2021, March 1). Four causes for ‘zoom fatigue’ and their solutions. Stanford News. Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://news.stanford.edu/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions/
Shi, D. (2021, March 3). How to make your virtual meetings more fair to introverts. Fast Company. Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://www.fastcompany.com/90608039/how-to-make-your-virtual-meetings-more-fair-to-introverts
This is a fantastic opportunity to get a break from zooming and great ways to utilize these tasks. This is now an everyday task for work, medical as well as family and friends., Great article
Zoom fatigue is real! In addition to Zoom fatigue, some are also exhausted due to code-switching. Adjusting your voice, body language, and personality to fit into a space for 30 minutes is exhausting! Thank you for sharing tips to help us fight the fatigue.
I really enjoyed this article and the links that were included. I took the the Fatigue Quiz myself and came back at 74th percentile for emotional fatigue. It made me really think about why? WHY? After some soul searching I think it all comes down to the fact I don’t always want to feel my appearance is being judged over my thoughts. And… the peer pressure I often feel to light up that camera is exhausting. The reality is I do think people judge others if they don’t have their camera on. It is perceived as not being participative. The reality is, having the camera off does not mean people are disengaged from the discussion, disinterested in the content or have an issue with the organizer. I simply think it means you don’t feel like, in that moment, having people peer at you and your every flaw close up on a computer screen. So I will definitely be trying to implement some of the suggestions in the article. Thank you!
From now on – this topic is always relevant. As a trainer, I look for ways to get my program participants to get up and move around. The best way I do this is to play show and tell with items in their home. I will ask them to show me their kitchen gadgets, their favorite shoes, things around their house that have no meaning but they refuse to throw out, etc. It usually turns into a fun ice breaker that gets them talking, moving and laughing. I love it!
This fatigue makes it difficult to retain the topic of discussion and can limit quality engagement. I try to battle this by being upfront about taking notes during important meetings which will limit my eye contact and help me remain engaged in the conversation.
This topic is so relevant today because although we have gone back to some in-person meetings Zoom has become the norm now. Everyone has experienced fatigue through Zoom at some point so the tools were very helpful and I will definitely take and use them for myself during Zoom as it’s part of our everyday work and schooling.
Any advice on additional ways to reduce Zoom Fatigue you can share?
Only thing I can think of besides the ones already mention is see if you can try to do your zoom in a different setting. My recommendation would be to do it outside with the fresh air. I always found that environment so relaxing that I dont really feel the zoom fatigue.
As an introvert/ extrovert, what benefits does Zoom bring to you?
Ive read that for some people, they dont like to zoom because they feel like they always have to in a way “dress up” for the camera. My opinion on that, if you are joining a meeting for work over zoom or joining a meeting FTF, whatever you wear to the FTF, wouldnt you present yourself the same way over zoom? Some people do not like having their cameras on and I totally respect it and understand it. But if the meeting was FTF, theres no real life feature to turn your camera off so others can not see you.
Im an extrovert but I find the same enjoyment/feelings/experience almost talking to someone face to face or through zoom. Sure, with FTF, theres little added bonuses regarding having a convo FTF but I can have the same convo, feel the same feelings over zoom. I think you can still be an extrovert with zoom and I think when it comes to introverts, zoom can accommodate them more by allowing them to have the opportunity not to turn on their camera, they dont have to talk, they can just chat etc.
Luckily, I work at a company that’s hybrid, but my old company was fully remote. Being in a leadership position meant I spent about 27 hours a week in meetings. That wouldn’t have been so bad if they weren’t all on Zoom. For me, zoom fatigue feels like having my mouse hovering over the “leave meeting” button eager for the last person to speak and say farewell. Making sure my lighting is well, that I look put together, I’m nodding at the right moments, and I don’t accidentally stand up (with no bottoms on) or unmute myself at the wrong time is nerve wrecking. The only way I would recover was walking away from my computer and trying to decompress in a way that doesn’t involve a screen. Zoom fatigue led to me not wanting to be on my phone or watch tv as much.
I think avoiding multitasking can help. I’m not sure about other people but working fully remote just exposed how horrible I am at multitasking, or at least when it comes to being on a video call and doing other things. It’s hard and exhausting trying to finish up work while also be an active participant in the zoom meeting. Studies show that multitasking can make easy tasks harder than they have to be and I second that!
I’m an introverted extrovert if that makes sense. I’m extroverted depending on who I am around and how comfortable I am with those people or groups of people. The biggest benefit it brings is keeping me connected with my coworker. Working remotely can get lonely sometimes, especially once I’ve built rapport with coworkers. Zoom makes me feel like we work face to face to some extent so it fills my social cup.
had a wonderful opportunity in applying collaboration tools and hosting a zoom meeting for class. I wanted to share a great article too as well. I also wanted to learn more regarding LCMS. This is a great article.
https://www.dominknow.com/blog/lcms-101-what-is-a-learning-content-management-system
I have never thought about Zoom fatigue before, but this is a valid perspective that I think a lot of people can relate to. I particularly resonated with the suggestion to take your self-view out of the Zoom. It can be distracting to make sure you look professional, or nice, or not weird while speaking and listening. I think this could take some pressure off Zoom meetings, while still being present. After all, it’s not like we walk around with a mirror in front of us all day!
As an introvert/ extrovert, what benefits does Zoom bring to you?
Great post! I have always identified myself as an introvert. However, when I started taking online courses and becoming more active with zoom, I have transitioned to more of an extrovert. Zoom has encouraged me to become more vocal in groups (there is nowhere to hide lol). I have become more confident when talking in groups, especially in my courses where most people I have never met before.
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Zoom. So many find it “less than” a face-to-face experience, so it is interesting to hear about how virtual communication has benefited you. It is certainly an essential skill in today’s virtual workplace.
The Zoom fatigue is real! In my experience I’ve had a lot of teachers struggle to manage this and straight up lecture for and entire two and a half hour session, without even a break. Significantly out of touch when in a class like that I can hardly remember anything shared past the first hour.
I agree, that is not an effective way to engage learners.
Wow, I never knew there was a “hide self-view” option. I think if more people were aware of this option much Zoom anxiety would be prevented. Another way to decrease Zoom fatigue is to take actual breaks during the call. We’ve all been on a Zoom meeting before that has run for hours or extended past it’s expected time. To prevent people from disengaging with the call, I believe hosts should implement small breaks, which can be just a few minutes, to let participants stretch, get something quick to snack on or drink, or just get some time away from the screen. In doing so, the host would be allowing participants to tend to their individual needs during the call so that they can maximize participation and engagement.
Zoom fatigue is real. At my workplace, we have implemented many of the suggestions in your article. For me, I can feel my eyes getting tired and I may drift off. I always have something to drink nearby which helps me refocus. Some other suggestions Include:
• Use the interactive tools to engage. The whiteboard, polls, videos, and groups are effective.
• Make time at the beginning or end of the meeting for a fun icebreaker.
• Building in time to stretch or just refocus
• Be aware of the length of the meeting or training, we try to avoid anything over
two hours.
• Consider what time works best for your group. Are mornings best? Do people prefer to meet before the end of the day? Is a working lunch an option?
Even with employees returning to the office, I believe the use of virtual learning and meeting platforms is here to stay and workplaces need to have a plan to keep employees alert, engaged, and healthy.
I find my Zoom Fatigue stemming from having to be in front of a camera for a long period of time sitting in the same spot, which the article shared great tips to help with this! However, I think as an introvert, the benefits Zoom does bring is not having to do small talk or be social prior to a meeting when you do not want to be. I do enjoy the benefits of in person meetings, which we can more easily talk with others, but sometimes you are not always in the mood to do that and it can be avoided virtually!
I’m an introvert and sitting for a long period of time on Zoom gives me fatigue. My online class has a Zoom session each week that last for only 1/2 hour. That’s enough time to get the point across, and I like that it doesn’t take up too much time. I agree with #5 about video conferencing doesn’t need to be used for every meeting. Utilize email, phone calls, or a quick working lunch at the local restaurant.
For me, Zoom fatigue feels like constant exhaustion that goes beyond just physical tiredness. It affects my ability to connect with people, making networking feel forced and less genuine. I struggle to maintain the quality of my relationships because I’m often drained after back-to-back virtual meetings.
To recover, I try to take short breaks between meetings, step away from my screen, or take a quick walk outside to reset my mind. I also set boundaries by scheduling camera-off moments when possible, and I prioritize in-person interactions whenever I can, as they feel more authentic and energizing for me.
It saves me a lot of time that would otherwise be spent commuting, allowing me to be more productive and efficient in my workday. I appreciate the flexibility of connecting with people from all over the world without the need for physical travel.
As an introvert, Zoom provides me a comfortable environment where I can engage at my own pace, choosing when to be more vocal or when to listen. It allows me to prepare better for interactions and take breaks when needed, helping me manage my energy levels.
Very interesting article. I took the study survey — no great surprises in my results, yet also a good reminder that Zoom Fatigue is real and another reason to take breaks and spend time away from the computer.
As an introvert, I much prefer WFH and videoconferencing over working in an office every day and having in-person meetings. However, the social cues and body language information that we get in person are an important part of communication. Through experimentation, I figured out one of the solutions suggested—to sit further back from the camera to create a bigger space on the camera. When I enter a meeting with someone who is sitting so close to their camera that I can only see their head, I gently ask (when not socially inappropriate) if they could sit back a little so that I can at least see them from the shoulders up. Most people are happy to adjust and sometimes even tell me at the end of the meeting that they see the value of better communication.
Jenny
As an extrovert who thrives on social interaction, Zoom can feel like a lonely island. I miss the subtle cues of body language, the energy of a room, and those spontaneous side conversations that make in-person connections so special.
While video calls are a step up from text, they can’t fully replicate the depth and spontaneity of real-life encounters. To navigate this increasingly digital world, I’ve learned a few tricks. Taking short breaks to stretch, move around, and give my eyes a rest is essential. I also try to limit my screen time outside of work and school and make time for in-person connections to recharge my social batteries.
What does Zoom Fatigue feel like for you? How do you recover? I seriously struggle with zoom fatigue sometimes between working remotely and also going to school remotely. My eyes feel like they are burning after staring at a screen for so many hours. What I usually do is go take a nap to rest my eyes or get outside and go on a walk to let that natural sunlight hit my eyes. If it’s a cold day I will typically go to the gym and walk on a treadmill for an hour
Any advice on additional ways to reduce Zoom Fatigue you can share? I found that sometimes doing another mindless task with my hands help out a lot when going on zoom such as coloring in a coloring book or writing down what the speaker is saying on a notepad to keep me distracted from the physical screen. I never thought about hiding the self view though. Maybe I will have to do that next time I’m in a meeting, but I’ve always been in “camera on” type of zoom meetings
As an introvert/ extrovert, what benefits does Zoom bring to you? I have found myself to be more of an introverted person, I do like the concept of zoom and not being able to physically have to take myself to a location because it saves me a lot of time, but sometimes I do feel like it makes me loose some of the interpersonal connections I might form with people in person.
Zoom fatigue is real. Sitting in one spot, staring at the screen, being mindful not to interrupt others and just simply not being in the room with others can feel exhausting. Usually in between my meetings I need to get up and walk around for 5-10 minutes even if it’s around my living room. This allows me to clear my mind and get “restarted” to join back the zoom.
This post highlights so many relevant challenges that come with videoconferencing, especially the way it impacts our energy and engagement levels.
I teach in the Secondary Education Department at Roosevelt University and regularly use Zoom for synchronous sessions. One thing I’ve found helpful is building in time for small breakout groups. These give participants a chance to connect and respond to each other more naturally, which keeps sessions from feeling too rigid or draining. It also brings back a sense of spontaneity that’s often lost in whole-group video calls.
The suggestion to limit the number of meetings really resonates. It’s easy to fall into the trap of scheduling everything on Zoom, Teams or Meets, but asking, “Does this need to be a meeting?” has helped me prioritize—and given both me and my students a bit of a breather. I’ve also found that even small shifts, like moving during breaks or turning off self-view, can make a noticeable difference in energy levels.
I’m curious to hear how others are balancing synchronous and asynchronous tools. Are you finding ways to reduce Zoom fatigue while still maintaining connection and collaboration?