So. A lot. Zoom.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you’ve ever felt completely exhausted after a day of work, even though it involved the most strenuous physical activity to smile through seemingly endless video calls, Stanford researchers now have the name for the feeling: “Zoom fatigue.” Although the scientists behind a new study, published February 23 in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior, are quick to point out that this can happen on any video call platform, they now say they have a better idea why Zoom- fatigue occurs.
Researchers say that Zoom fatigue has four main culprits: excessive and intense eye contact, constantly watching videos of yourself, the limited mobility to cling to your desk and spending more energy identifying social cues you would otherwise use personally .
The research also suggests strategies to offset the negative physical effects of video calls: Make the screen window smaller to reduce participants’ face size, get some distance from your webcam to increase your “personal space bubble”, hide you self-portrait video stream, and turn off your camera regularly, then turn it off physically so you do not look at others.
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.