Zoom Fatigue is REAL
All those completely exhausted by being ‘on camera’ raise their hands…
You can’t see, but I have both my hands raised—literally typing this with toes over here.
It’s been about five months and I don’t know about you, but there’s a different level of anxiety that I feel about being on camera all the damn time versus when I would just get dressed for work. Maybe there’s something about seeing your reflections, your perceived flaws mirrored back to you over the unforgiving Zoom screen—I’ve not yet mastered the perfect angle of my computer camera either. So just UGH!
Anyway, we’re all tired of Zoom and all the many Zoom type video conferencing work applications we’ve all tried in the last few months. That said, we can still find innovative ways to connect, to execute meetings and virtual events. Here’s some of the best practices I’ve picked up:
Breaks are your friend—we know typical meetings usually last an hour, but whose to say we have to abide by ‘typical’ rules here. Perhaps a 5-10 minute break in the middle of the meeting will allow your participants to step away, readjust their eyes.
Plan for back connections—Can you hear me now? Again we are used to having meeting or events that usually begin and end without too many hiccups, but a bad Zoom connection could possibly delay a meeting significantly. Plan for such an occasion by having an easy to navigate slide deck or meeting notes prepared for those who may join late because of spotty connection. Or plan for a way to catch them up at the end of the meeting.
Change your name and save a picture of yourself for when you’re off camera. Listen, I get it. You don’t always want to have your camera on. It is helpful thought when you have a picture of yourself saved for when you are off camera—and to also rename yourself so folks know who you are.
Do you really need another Zoom meeting—really? We so badly want to operate as if all is normal, but times have changes, needs have changed and our work has changed. Think strategically about whether you really truly need to have another Zoom meeting or if another form of information sharing exists that you could utilize.
Establish meeting protocols—it’s the wild West out there. We have established norms for in-person meetings but no so much for virtual meetings. Although it’s bene some months, it’s the perfect time to establish some set norms for how virtual meetings will run—especially now that we know what some of our pet peeves are.
Office Hours — remember stopping by a colleague’s desk for a quick problem solving session? Those don’t have to end. Setting up brief office hours means being able to replicate those quick cubicle visits to plan for upcoming collaboration sessions or to sharing valuable information.