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I read this article from the BBC today and thought I must share it here! - https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting
I thought I was the only one who gets tired and stressed dealing with all these video calls. I am an introvert and thought it was that, but in the article it states that it is impacting everyone.
At the end it is very light and ways to help deal with the many issues it brings up. Any advice from the Community?
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Replies
Thanks for the share Vicky. It is a really intersting article and brings up so many different view points!
I thought this point below is something to consider:
Something to consider, explaining to people before the sessions that it can cause issues. Much like reading a text in a different way to what the sender intended. Perhaps some more points to check in that everyone is happy, rather than rely on what you think you saw.Â
And a point about camera use I think really needs to talked about. We rarely run an entire training session with just the facilitator using webcam let alone everyone on webcam. Meetings can be a different situation but I think some of the main points still persist, people getting distracted and cognitive load. The article put it this way:
We find that some new facilitators are looking forward to working online and having the webcams off. They are not on display the whole time, it can reduce their stress and worry. I think this could be the same with virtual meetings. Worried about our background, where our camera is, what if I need a drink etc. Sometimes removing the camera and focus from people to the actual meat of the call.
This point below from the article I can really identify with. When I started to work from home 3 years ago it was a major shock to the system and it can feel hard to switch off. Are you using Zoom calls or other software a lot more not just for work also? It can feel like everything is a bit of a reminder from work.
I found this aspect got better over time, perhaps within a month. Now I don't think that much about living and working in the same place and using a lot of the tools i normally use for work socially also.
Tips to avoid fatigue
I think lots of people in the Community will have their own ideas. I will drop down some of my ideas but they are just ideas, you likely need to find what works best for you personally.
Those are my initial thoughts. Hopefully other members will find this article useful and share some of their own thoughts and tips!
I have been feeling the same. I have never had so many meetings and them all being online. I find it really hard to keep up with everyone on webcam, people talking over each other and I can't even consider looking at the chat also.
Defining what the session is and setting rules might help with this Hugh.
Some kind of structure like this might help not just you but many people within your organisation. If the article tells us anything it is that this online meeting fatigue is not unique to certain individuals, you should not feel like the odd one out and opening up a dialog on this might reveal more people are struggling.
Thanks for the share Vicky, and very pertinent at the moment!
Interesting the points that Mike picked out too - about being aware of being watched and lag of systems.
All of this does make it a little harder and more challenging to be in online meetings.Â
Perhaps coming off of webcam can help in some instances. As well as the good old fashioned... does it even need to be a meeting :D
I've just read this from our friends at The Conversation Space - highlighting that perhaps one of the issues is too many people on calls adn that gets in the way of connecting.Â
https://www.theconversationspace.com/our-thinking/am-i-disconnectin...
This Training Journal article has some nice points at the end about how to be aware of emotional responses in live online sessions, so might help with the fatigue point:Â https://www.trainingjournal.com/articles/features/supporting-emotio...