How to Minimize Zoom Fatigue

The past several years have come with significant changes in the way we conduct business. As companies seek to cut costs and keep their employees safe and healthy, we’re having fewer face-to-face meetings and more get-togethers via web conferencing services such as Zoom.

The growth in the number of Zoom meetings in which we participate comes with a host of new requirements, including the hardware we need for smooth connectivity and the etiquette required to make those meetings a success.

Unfortunately, those meetings come with a downside as well. Chief among them is an affliction that’s become known as “Zoom fatigue,” a phenomenon that can occur after extended periods of video conferencing or online meetings.

Frequent video calls can lead to headaches, particularly if the lighting is poor or the screen is too bright. Spending long hours staring at a screen can be mentally and physically exhausting, leading to feelings of fatigue and burnout. Additionally, sitting in the same position for a long time can cause physical discomfort such as back pain and neck pain.

Here are some tips on how to minimize Zoom fatigue:

• Take regular breaks: Schedule breaks between Zoom meetings to give your mind and eyes a rest.

• Reduce on-screen stimuli: Try limiting the number of images on your Zoom desktop. That might include minimizing your self-view or turning off the virtual background.

• Use audio-only when possible: Consider using phone calls or audio-only conference calls to reduce visual fatigue. Give your eyes a break from screen time.

• Try to limit the number of video meetings per day: Whenever possible, cut down the number of video meetings you have to avoid the symptoms of Zoom fatigue. Instead of having back-to-back meetings, schedule a gap between each meeting to give yourself time to rest and recharge.

• Use speaker view: Use the speaker view feature in Zoom to focus on the person speaking rather than constantly switching between gallery and speaker view.

• Consider alternatives to Zoom: Try using alternative communication methods, such as email or messaging, for less important conversations that do not require video conferencing.

• Stretch and move: Take a few moments to stretch, walk around, or do some light exercise in between meetings to help your body and mind relax.

• Optimize your environment: Ensure that your working environment is comfortable, well-lit, and distraction-free to reduce the mental strain of video calls.

• Use non-verbal cues: Using emojis and thumbs-up during calls can help you communicate and engage with participants. In most cases, you don’t need to verbally respond to everything.

• Set boundaries: Set clear boundaries for work hours and avoid scheduling meetings outside of these hours to allow for rest and recharge time.

• Practice self-care: Finally, prioritize self-care by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in activities you enjoy outside of work.

Overall, the key to overcoming the causes of Zoom fatigue is to find a balance between video conferencing and other communication methods, take breaks, and prioritize self-care.

Additionally, having the right communication hardware can help those meetings run more smoothly. Yamaha Unified Communications offers several Zoom-certified products, including the YVC-1000 USB and Bluetooth conference phone, the RM-CG Dante-enabled Ceiling Microphone Array, the RM-TT Dante-enabled Tabletop Microphone, the FLX UC-500 USB conference phone, and the FLX UC 1000/1500 VoIP conference phones. These products passed Zoom's stringent certification process to ensure they seamlessly integrate with Zoom software and deliver the best possible meeting experience.  

For the best in Zoom-certified hardware, reach out to the experts at Yamaha UC. We’re here to help!