6 ways to combat Zoom Fatigue
Tags: Classum, Distance Learning, Insights, Lms, Edtech

With the end of group gatherings due to COVID 19, Zoom calls have become the new normal.

The change appeared most prominently in the education sector. In all institutions, including K-12, universities, and corporations, lectures are now delivered via video communication apps such as Zoom and Google Meet.

But people began realizing that all these video calls were making them tired — exhausted even. This phenomenon even has a name: Zoom fatigue.

Why is it that we feel more tired when communicating with Zoom than in-person lectures? Is it simply because you are less concentrated in the comfort of your home?

This article will introduce you to some of the theories about Zoom Fatigue, as well as some simple but definite solutions that can resolve your tiredness.

This article is for : - those who doze off the moment they turn Zoom on

- those who find taking online lectures difficult

- educators who want to communicate with students via Zoom

1) A millisecond of lag can make a huge difference

Did you know that our brains automatically release feel-good hormones from in-person conversations? Based on centuries of experience, our brain induces the secretion of oxytocin when we communicate with others.

But does our brain react the same way when we talk with others via Zoom? Experts say no.

In a recent podcast episode by Edsurge, Dr. Brenna Widerhold briefly talked about Zoom Fatigue. No matter how fast the internet is, there is always a tiny delay in online sessions compared to real-time communication. According to Widerhold, our brain is able to detect even a millisecond delayed response and tell us that a problem exists. As it tries to sync the conversation, it creates a great deal of exhaustion to our brain, lowering the levels of oxytocin, and causing the famous Zoom Fatigue.

For more information, refer to Edsurge Podcast 「Is Learning on Zoom the Same as In Person? Not to Your Brain」.

2) Communication is not just about talking and listening

Humans communicate primarily with words, but also through various non-verbal gestures. Contrary to what most believe, body gestures and facial expressions, play an important role in human communication.

Cyber psychoanalyst Andrew Franklin sees the absence of such non-verbal expressions in video conferencing as one of the key causes of Zoom Fatigue. Video conferencing impairs our access to such nonverbal signs, forcing students to rely solely on the speaker’s words.

Our brain uses extra effort to figure out the intention of the person speaking through the screen, resulting in increased stress and leading up to Zoom Fatigue.

▷ For more information, refer to 「Zoom fatigue’ is taxing the brain. Here’s why that happens」.

3) Other’s ‘attention’ can be the cause of fatigue.

Having so many people staring at you can be quite bothering. And although those stares may not be directed to you, it’s almost impossible to tell while on Zoom lectures.

But at the same time, not looking into the camera can often be mistaken for distraction. To show that we are paying attention to the lectures and not doing something else, we are “trained” to keep looking at the camera.

So, how can we reduce Zoom Fatigue?

1. Turn off Zoom’s Self View mode (for everyone)

If you are required to have your camera on, try turning off the Self View mode. By doing so, it will hide your video from yourself but still be visible to other participants. Looking at ourselves for long periods of time can distract us, and consequently, cause fatigue.

2. Solve your questions through email or call. (for students)

Students often have questions to ask. Instead of asking them on Zoom, try changing the environment. Emails, calls, or better, CLASSUM are one of the options you can take.

3. Don’t focus on one method. (for educators)

Just as the option above, changing environments is a good option to reduce Zoom Fatigue. Try switching between platforms and methods for your lectures, don’t use Zoom for every single class. Messaging, online quiz tools, calls, there are several other options out there! PS: CLASSUM is a great option too.

4. Change your Zoom background. (for everyone)

It is a natural thing for the human brain to get distracted by different backgrounds. The more different backgrounds, the more energy is spent trying to recognize them. To better focus on the lecture, ask students to change their backgrounds to simple colors, or use CLASSUM’s standard backgrounds. :)

5. Be punctual. (for educators)

Losing track of time during Zoom lectures is pretty common. But as the lecture extends, fatigue increases resulting in less attentive students. Practicing beforehand in front of the camera or appointing a student to let you know the lecture is ending soon are two of the ways that could help you keep track of your time.

6. Reduce multi-tasking. (for students)

Computers and smartphones can be very distracting. Experts say it takes 40 percent more time for the brain to stop what you are doing to focus on something else. A Stanford research showed that multitaskers had a worse memory when compared to single taskers. Reducing the number of tasks done while on Zoom lectures, is a great way to reduce fatigue and increase memory.