"Zoom Fatigue", when video calls make us feel stressed
Do you experience an inexplicable sense of fatigue every time you end a video call? Don't worry, everything is normal. Psychologists have even coined an expression to define what is the new post-videocall fatigue syndrome, the Zoom Fatigue, named after one of the various platforms on which this service can be performed.
Interactions 2.0
It is undeniable that, once the general lockdown has been declared, this form of digital communication has entered by force in our new daily life. On the other hand, it is the only means we have at our disposal to keep in contact with the outside world in a phase of forced isolation.And the meeting with colleagues in smart-working, and the video call with distant relatives, and the aperitif in streaming with friends, in short, our day is now marked by 2.0 appointments. But why, then, do we feel so stressed? Yet it's about sitting comfortably while having conversations via computer, isn't it?
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The point of view of the experts
No, the question is not that simple, as Gianpiero Petriglieri, associate professor of Insead, and Maria Shuffler, associate professor at Clemson University have pointed out. The two specialists, who deal, in particular, with sustainable development and well-being in the workplace, have decided to investigate what are the reasons behind this increase in stress. First of all, video calls lack a fundamental component in the communication process: non-verbal language. Eloquent looks, gestures, contact, everything that is not just a word, but still manages to send concrete messages. This means that, during the video calls, we are called to pay particular attention to the words, subjecting our brain to an enormous waste of energy. Furthermore, those moments of silence that we hate so much in reality become even more embarrassing online, arousing performance anxiety in participants. Not to mention the discomfort due to the video factor. The feeling of being observed by others, but above all by ourselves, forced to scrutinize our face on a computer screen, certainly does not help.
Some tips to relieve stress
What, then, do psychologists advise? To alleviate this "digital" malaise, it would be advisable to reduce the number of video calls to what is strictly necessary, take breaks between meetings, taking the opportunity to practice healthy physical exercise and, finally, if it can make us feel more at ease, turn off the webcam, leaving only the microphone on.
