How to Minimize "Zoom Fatigue"
By Rachel Rose and Hydee Mariazeta
We almost don’t have to say it, but the truth is that everyone spends more time looking at screens now than they did before March of 2020. That dull headache you get after looking at your computer for too long is all too familiar for most of us.
As wonderful as it is to work from the safety and comfort of your home, there are still skills we can sharpen to prevent burnout. It’s hard to complain about a life spent in sweatpants, but we still believe that there can be too much of a good thing, even with tech.
As a fully remote company specializing in virtual events, we at Accelevents have learned a few tricks of the trade. Read these six helpful tips below for catching that dreaded zoom fatigue before it strikes.
Adjust the brightness and tint of your screen
First, we recommend adjusting your screen’s color shade and brightness level to help ease eye strain. For Mac users, you can change your screen’s color tint by going to System Preferences > Display > Night Shift > Color Temperature. From there, you can adjust the shade as well as the brightness! Also, for those who aren’t aware, you can adjust the brightness of your Mac computer screen by selecting either of the two keys on your keyboard with a small and larger image resembling a sun. You can then fiddle with it a bit and attune the tint and brightness scale to your liking.
Schedule an eye exam
Not only is a yearly eye exam crucial for your overall eye health, but it’s also helpful in determining whether or not your prescription needs an adjustment. Do you find yourself frequently squinting at your screen? You might need a new prescription from your optometrist.
Like anything, rooting out an issue begins with analyzing the cause. When was the last time your prescription changed? Did you recently move and need to find a new optometrist? Eye prescriptions can change for many reasons over one’s lifetime, so it’s definitely good to add that possibility to the list of usual suspects!
Many factors can affect your focus; make sure you meet with your eye doctor once a year and get your eyes checked to stay ahead of the curve.
Take short and frequent breaks
At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, we always suggest taking breaks when you have prolonged screen time (aka, most of our job descriptions!) The Pomodoro Method is an innovative work practice where employees take a five-minute break every twenty-five minutes. This method helps employees create boundaries around their time, have more energy, and increase productivity!
Avoid multitasking
It can be tempting to try and accomplish several things at once, especially if you're working from home. However, this will only lead to more screen time and less productivity. When you're on a video call, avoid the urge to check your email or social media. If you need to take notes, do so in a separate document to keep your focus on the conversation.
Research shows that those who multitask have reduced memory compared to those who focus on one activity. So, if you're attending a session in a virtual event, close other tabs, place your messengers on mute and concentrate on the virtual event. You might even find yourself crafting more thoughtful responses to your emails instead of responding while watching at the same time.
Turn off your camera
You may find yourself fixating on yourself during a video conference. First, of course, there is nothing wrong with checking how you look. However, make sure that it isn't for too long.
Onscreen distractions can be a big problem. You may not realize it, but when you're on video, you focus on the other person's face and background, too. Also, if you're talking to more than one person simultaneously, it feels like you're in multiple rooms at once. This experience may lead to mental fatigue.
Shake it up!
Accelevents’ event management platform offers event attendees a variety of ways to engage that don’t include them having to stare at a screen for hours mindlessly. In particular, our Networking feature provides a fast-paced and lively virtual space for users to connect with other people they might not have met otherwise.
Utilizing a speed-dating style, participants enter the virtual networking room and are ‘matched’ one at a time with other participants. Further, the event organizer determines the meeting duration, but attendees can always manually extend the meeting time to talk further. This face-to-face interaction produces energy and inspiration that participants will carry throughout the rest of the event!
In summary, the boredom you sometimes feel while looking at a screen might be attributed to other factors you aren’t even thinking of. Trial and error is the name of the game, and we encourage you to switch things up every once in a while to see if it doesn’t give you that boost of inspiration you need!
