Research 
Zoom Fatigue is Real
Communication Professor Jeremy Bailenson, examined the effects of spending hours on video conferencing each day.
In the peer-reviewed article, published in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior on Feb. 23, and this abstract Bailenson identified four factors that contribute to “Zoom Fatigue” and tips for minimizing the effects.
Excessive amounts of close-up eye contact is intense.
Generally speaking, people aren’t used to the sheer volume of eye contact in a video call. In meetings, if you aren’t speaking you might be taking notes or looking elsewhere, whereas on video you’re staying straight at the screen.
Quick Tip: Bailenson recommends reducing the size of your screen and putting a buffer between yourself and the grid.
Seeing yourself is fatiguing.
People aren’t accustomed to looking at themselves for an extended period, which can also drive folks to be more self-critical.
Quick Tip: Try hiding your self-view on zoom so you’re only looking at the other people in the meeting.
Video chats reduce our mobility
Previously, participants would move around while on the phone, or shift their bodies in a seated meeting. While on camera, mobility can cause the participant to move outside the frame of their video tile.
Quick Tip: As a solution, video can be turned off occasionally or the camera can be positioned farther away to enable more movement within the frame.
Cognitive load increases on video calls
While communicating in person, participants pick up traditional non-verbal cues that are easier to spot than on video. As a result, participants are required to greatly exaggerate their gestures and expressions, which places a strain on themselves and their audience. Additionally, we are required to focus on multiple people at once, as opposed to in-person interactions where we’re typically only observing one or two people.
Quick Tip: To alleviate this work, take an audio break by turning off video but also by positioning yourself away from the screen to mimic the way we would traditionally communicate.
Summary
Although video calls are difficult to avoid when working from home, or in a distributed environment, there are steps you can take to minimize the negative effects. Use the tips above to minimize the impact on your productivity and your mood; Bailenson also stressed that “videoconferencing is a good thing for remote communication” before adding “just because you can use video doesn’t mean you have to.”
