Combatting Zoom Fatigue
Connecting as a Community in Different Ways
This page provides resources that are focused on how you can combat Zoom fatigue and find different ways to virtually connect.
The C+V Team recognizes that Zoom is an incredibly useful tool but that Zoom fatigue is real. It doesn't feel totally natural and after over 10 months of using it, C+V wants to provides options for community members to learn more about Zoom fatigue and alternatives to still connect with their fellow community members.
*Please note, this list is a starting point for learning more about this topic. C+V does not endorse any specific product, service, or platform, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of information provided. Additionally, if you wish to see the YouTube videos in full-screen with captions, select "YouTube" on the video, and it will lead you to the site.
Diagnosing the Problem
Psychology of Zoom Meetings | Wall Street Journal
- It's important to understand why Zoom sometimes makes us feel tired and disconnected - normal meetings have brief moments of intense eye contact.
- Zoom meetings have prolonged perceptions of intense eye contact as all the videos are on screen the whole time.
- When big faces appear on screen our brains see it as “close” and go into fight or flight, exhausting the mind after several hours.
Let's talk about what we can do
‘Zoom fatigue’ is Real and It's Setting In
How to Fight Off "Zoom Fatigue"
Zoom Fatigue: How to Beat It and Build Your Video Stamina
Zoom Solutions
NEW RESOURCE! Stanford Researchers Identify Four Causes for ‘Zoom Fatigue’ and Their Simple Fixes | Stanford University
"It’s not just Zoom. Popular video chat platforms have design flaws that exhaust the human mind and body. But there are easy ways to mitigate their effects." Visit this article to learn more.
Making Zoom Better | Forbes
In professional or academic situations there will be times when avoiding zoom is impossible. Here are some tips for working on digital teams and preserving your energy through the work day.
- Set office norms to reduce the number of faces on screen whenever possible. This can include switching the screen from gallery view to speaker view and hiding participants.
- Hide your own video from yourself. Seeing yourself isn’t natural for that prolonged of a period of time and can be draining on your focus.
- Schedule team breaks between meetings when possible.
- Have the team agree on an agenda and hold each other to the designated time. This makes each meeting feel contained and manageable, reducing the potential to feel overwhelmed by moving goal posts.
DU Resources
DU Sturm College of Law Career Connection: How to Combat Zoom Fatigue
It’s hard to be on a Zoom call without someone mentioning “Zoom Fatigue." While Zoom calls are unavoidable for most students, there are ways to combat this new phenomenon.
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CAHSS: Q&A: Lessons from Theatre on Overcoming Zoom Fatigue
How is our community adapting to prevent Zoom fatigue, while still communicating effectively? Are there lessons can we learn from actors, who often perform for hours on end? To find out, we caught up with Gregory Ungar, associate professor in the Department of Theatre.
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OTL: Teaching into the Abyss: Addressing Students’ Camera Usage (or Lack Thereof!) in Zoom
If you’ve ever had the experience of teaching to a screen full of black boxes in Zoom, you know it can feel like you are teaching into an abyss. This article discusses addressing students’ camera usage (or lack thereof!) in Zoom and how to manage.
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DU Information Technology
Information Technology's primary mission is to deliver reliable, secure, and high quality services to University constituents, in addition to providing the greatest value and supporting the objectives and strategies of the institution. Their goal is to exceed expectations in providing easy-to-use, seamless, and safe technologies; supporting easy communication methods; and making available intuitive and useful access to information and services to enable success for academic outcomes. Visit their page for resources and information on technology.
Looking for alternatives? Check out these!
Remotion
- Simulates more casual, shorter calls that simulate looking over to your colleague to ask a question in the office
- Teams can set their dock of members and each member can designate if they are open to interruption or not
- This allows for natural conversations which don’t feel heavy or scheduled
Discord
- Typically used for gaming, Discord is a voice-based group chat software which is also video enabled
- It integrates well with many video game platforms, allowing for leisure opportunities with friends while playing games together
- Playing a game with another person, even if they aren’t with you, can be engaging in a way that reduces facetime while still having fun together.
Miro
- Is a digital whiteboard space where team members can be invited to collaborate
- The whiteboard can shift focus from looking at each other’s faces to creative engagement on the screen in front of you
- Adds variety to meeting and allows for a personalized experience as you type and draw together
Phone Calls
- Not everything has to be a face-to-face call, phone calls reduce sensory stimulation and won’t feel as tiring
- For meetings that don’t require notetaking, consider a walk and talk outside
- Utilize Zoom, Google Meetings, or Microsoft Teams to make a phone call. You can call without video on your cell.
