Zoom Fatigue: Why Do We Feel So Exhausted When We're Just Sitting In Front of Our Screens?

March 18, 2021
By Sherrie Steinberg, MSW, RSW

You’d think that running to different classes and labs, playing sports, meeting your friends for a night out, joining clubs, or going home to visit your parents would take far more energy than sitting at home in front of your computer; yet we all feel Zoom fatigue: the lack of focus, tiredness, and burnout associated with back-to-back-to-back video interactions, whatever video conferencing application you’re using.

There are several reasons why although this year we are doing less in some ways, we are doing much more in others.  Since we’ve been learning online for a year, our main method of attending class is via video conferencing, but we also use this method for many other activities such as virtual classes at the gym, meeting with friends or participating in clubs we’ve joined, connecting with family online, and accessing support from various areas on campus such as the Service Laurier, the Student Wellness Centre, or academic advising.  Due to pandemic restrictions, we moved to an online environment, but the reality is that it’s not the same as how we normally live.  Every time we connect virtually with people, it’s a reminder of what we’ve lost in terms of human interaction, and it can reinforce our sense of isolation.

The type of focus we need for virtual interactions is quite different from when we are together in person. In real life, we focus on verbal and non-verbal cues to discern meaning in any interaction.  In a virtual environment, our ability to read non-verbal cues is significantly reduced.  We often can’t see much more than the head and shoulders of the speaker, thus reducing our ability to read gestures or other types of body language.  If the screen is in gallery view, each person is displayed in a tiny square that further limits our ability to read non-verbal cues.  Delays in audio, which are common in a virtual environment, affect our ability to hear and understand what the speaker is saying and meaning.

Another challenge is that we also see ourselves in one of those tiny squares.  Seeing yourself on screen can be distracting because we normally don’t see ourselves or notice our space, and we don’t think about.  Now we are considering what we look like, what our space looks like, and whether anyone will distract or interrupt us while we are working.  We also worry about where to focus our eyes: if we look at the camera, we aren’t really focusing on the speaker or other participants.  If we focus on the speaker, it may look like we aren’t paying attention.

Finally, lack of movement also impacts our energy levels. If we sit in front of our computers for hours at a time this actually increases fatigue, even though we aren’t expending energy moving.

So, what can we do?  We’ll be continuing online learning for at least the rest of this term and through the summer.  How can we lessen the impact virtual interactions have on us?  The first thing to consider is whether virtual interactions are the best choice. You may not always have control over this, but when you do, can you consider other options such as calling, emailing, or texting?  Having a break from consecutive video interactions, while still being able to connect in other ways, may help you feel less like a face in a tiny little box on a screen.  Another option is to turn off your camera, when it’s permitted, switch your screen view, or move your screen off to the side.  Breaking up the intensity of trying to focus on the speaker, seeing and hearing other participants, and feeling distracted by your own appearance or space is exhausting.  It’s multi-tasking on a high level and we can’t maintain that all day, every day.

When you start to feel yourself fading, it’s time for a break. You can try 20-20-20 which is to look away from your screen every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds and look ahead 20 feet.  Your eyes need a break because we tend to blink less when we are staring at a screen.  If you are able can get completely away from your screen for a break, try to move as much as you can: try stretching, walking around your space, or going up and down the stairs.  If you can’t get away from your screen, try some stretching and movement in your chair.

We’re all hoping and waiting for the time when we can see each other in person again when things will get back to some kind of normal.  Until then remember that the exhaustion you feel is real and valid, and it’s happening for a reason.  Trying some strategies to minimize the impact will give you a bit of control over what often seems like a completely out-of-control situation.