Using Zoom might be easy, but the video chat app is apparently wearing down so many of its users that Stanford researchers have investigated the causes — and suggested some remedies.
The paper, published in the peer-reviewed Technology, Mind and Behavior journal, identified the four main causes of “Zoom fatigue” and how users can minimize the risks. Author Jeremy Bailenson, a Stanford professor and founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL), noted that many of these fixes are simple UI tweaks.
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Bailsenson said that the first cause of fatigue is an excessive amount of eye contact, as the constant view of multiple colleagues’ faces contributes to feelings of anxiety and stress. Even in one-on-one chats, the unnaturally large size of the other person’s face can feel uncomfortable. The paper recommended using Zoom in a smaller window rather than in fullscreen, and using an external keyboard to break eye contact and give you something to look away from.
Seeing yourself, in real-time, is another apparent source of fatigue. Bailsenson compared the sensation to “if somebody was following you around with a mirror constantly,” and leads to users being more critical of themselves. Hiding the self-view window can help with this: in Zoom, you can do this by right-clicking on your photo.
The third cause, a lack of physical mobility compared to in-person and phone conversations, can be partially addressed by setting your webcam further away. This gives you a larger space to move around in while remaining in view. “There’s a growing research now that says when people are moving, they’re performing better cognitively,” wrote Bailenson.
The fourth apparent cause of Zoom fatigue is the added physical and mental effort of communicating over video. “If you want to show someone that you are agreeing with them, you have to do an exaggerated nod or put your thumbs up,” Bailenson noted. “That adds cognitive load as you’re using mental calories in order to communicate.”
The paper suggested switching calls to audio-only, so you don't need to make such exaggerated expressions nor spend attention on parsing the expressions of others.
These tips don’t just apply to Zoom; turning off video and getting up for a stretch could potentially help whether you’re using Google Meet, Skype or GoTo Meeting. If you’re concerned about regular videoconferencing getting you down, Stanford has also produced a public research questionnaire that will show you where you land on a Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue (ZEF) scale.
Zoom fatigue fixes: Here's what to try
- Minimize the size of your Zoom window to cut down on anxiety and stress.
- Hide your self-view window by right-clicking on your photo.
- Try placing your webcam further away to give yourself a larger area to move around in.
- Opt for audio-only calls sometimes so you can focus on what's being said instead of expressions.
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