Zoom fatigue": why online meetings are exhausting and what to do about it
Virtual meetings are now ubiquitous in the professional world, but they can be particularly exhausting. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet... these tools have an impact on users' mental and physical fatigue. A Stanford University study, led by Professor Jeremy Bailenson, identifies the main causes of this phenomenon and proposes solutions.
The four main causes of videoconferencing fatigue
- Excessive eye contact
In virtual meetings, all participants are constantly looking at each other, which is unnatural. In face-to-face meetings, interactions are more varied: we look at the speaker, take notes, observe others, etc. This constant attention to the screen, coupled with face sizes that can appear too large, creates additional stress. Bailenson recommends reducing the size of the window to mitigate this effect. - The omnipresent mirror
Constantly seeing yourself on screen is unnatural. The professor points out that, in the real world, it would be unthinkable for someone to constantly look in the mirror during a conversation. This generates emotional stress and cognitive fatigue. He recommends masking the display of oneself on videoconferencing platforms. - Limited mobility
Virtual meetings generally take place in a fixed space, which limits participants' mobility. Yet moving around during a meeting improves cognitive performance. Bailenson suggests repositioning the camera, choosing a more flexible space and taking regular breaks to allow better movement. - High cognitive load
Video-conferencing interactions require extra mental effort to pick up and send non-verbal signals (such as head nods or gestures). This extra effort can be exhausting. To reduce this cognitive load, the professor recommends switching to audio mode during long meetings, or reducing visual interactions whenever possible.
Conclusion
Videoconferencing can be exhausting for many reasons, but by adjusting the way you approach it, reducing distractions and taking breaks, it's possible to limit fatigue.
Source : ICTjournal
