How to beat video call burnout

how to

beat video call burnout

Video call platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom have been pivotal throughout the pandemic, enabling workers to stay connected all over the world. However, 18 months on, many of us are suffering from video call fatigue.

Professor Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab examined the psychological consequences of video calls. He found four key reasons that lead to fatigue: excessive amounts of intense eye contact, constant exposure to your appearance, reduction in mobility and a higher cognitive load.

In traditional meetings, we can look around the room, read gestures and signals and move positions but with video calls, these capabilities are drastically reduced or removed entirely. Luckily, there are solutions to beat the burnout!

To reduce spontaneous calls, try time blocking your calendar. This involves scheduling a couple of hours each day for video calls so you can prepare beforehand and relax or concentrate for the rest of the day. Take the time to create a video conferencing space. For example, find a comfortable location and adjust your screen and camera. Investing in an autotracking camera may be beneficial if you prefer to walk around the space.

Provide direction to your meeting with an agenda and timeframe. This means all team members are on the same page and you know what you’ll be discussing - streamlining workflow and reducing call-time.

If you’re tired of seeing yourself on camera, Zoom users can choose to Hide Self View while other members can still see your video. Although this is not an option for Teams users yet, the developing Microsoft 365 roadmap will have this feature.

Lastly, staring at a screen for hours at a time can have negative health consequences. Remember to take regular screen breaks between calls to reduce eye strain and headaches.