“Zoom fatigue” has become the catch-all term for feeling worn-out and tired after many video/online meetings. Although there are other options for video meetings, Zoom seems to be a go-to across industries, which is why it got space in the name. Plus, it’s shorter than saying “video/online meeting fatigue” or using the names of other tools for online work meetings.
The general feeling of tired comes from feeling like you have to be “on” all the time. Even with video, you can still miss a lot of communication cues that come from in-person interactions. Often, your brain is working hard to pay attention to all of the details, stay focused, and process distractions.
Plus, you don’t get the normal visual breaks that come with other meetings, so the state of “constant gaze” is tiring. And, it only becomes more difficult when you add in technology issues, miscommunications, poor communication strategies, and more.
On top of having to manage your focus and other internal distractions, you also have to deal with external distractions, other people, etc. in your environment. All of this is a drain on your energy, which can result in you feeling more exhausted than usual after a day that includes video calls.