Even though the pandemic is behind us, video conferencing remains an integral part of many workers’ professional lives. Its negative effects are now well documented. We spoke with Laurie Michel, a digital wellness specialist, about the causes of video call burnout—and how to fix it.
Zoom fatigue was widely discussed during the pandemic. Why revisit the topic now? Hasn’t the issue faded with the return to the office?
Laurie Michel: Many organizations have actually stayed in remote work mode or adopted a hybrid setup. As a result, new behaviors have emerged.
When employees go into the office, they still often have to attend video calls from the office to accommodate those working from home. This is something we hardly ever saw before the pandemic. So in reality, the frequency of video meetings hasn’t dropped at all.
And how is this a burden for employees?
L.M.: Zoom fatigue is a complex phenomenon to understand. For starters, simply sitting behind a screen can physically exhaust us—this is scientifically documented.
During lockdown, Stanford researchers identified four main factors that cause this fatigue:
1- Lack of movement, because we want to stay in the camera frame so everyone can see us
2- Being constantly watched
3- Watching others without access to their full range of nonverbal cues, which forces our brain to work harder
4- Intensified eye contact, which is more intense than in-person meetings
That’s a lot of aggravating factors…
L.M.: It really is. On top of that, some people schedule back-to-back meetings without giving their brain time to recover. There are studies showing increased stress levels and decreased productivity in people who follow that pattern.
Our brain isn’t designed like a computer—we can’t just click a button to shut down after a meeting. Even an hour later, the brain is still processing information shared during the call. That’s a major cause of exhaustion too.
What solutions are available for employees who have no choice but to work via video conferencing?
L.M.: There are several. Can we space out the video calls? Can we find new ways to collaborate and work as a team? Can we switch to a phone call—to reduce visual fatigue—or hold a “stand-up” meeting to help the body stay less rigid?
Some companies are doing “stand-up meetings.” What exactly are those?
L.M.: “Active meetings” involve inviting your team to meet while standing or even walking. Changing the environment or breaking out of routine helps the brain switch into different thinking modes. It stimulates us and sparks fresh ideas.
Could turning off the camera help short-circuit some of the problems caused by video calls?
L.M.: It can definitely protect us from the “mirror effect”—that reflex to keep looking at ourselves. But there’s also the risk of multitasking, which is terrible for cognitive fatigue. If we turn the camera off, we must be careful to stay focused on the meeting topic.
That said, cameras can be beneficial too, depending on the context or the personalities involved. I’m fully aware that sometimes, in certain settings, a manager may need to see an employee’s nonverbal communication. So when it comes to implementing solutions in an organization, it’s often a case-by-case approach.
Finding a better balance in our relationship with video conferencing sounds really tough. How do teams and professionals you work with usually respond?
L.M.: I see a lot of openness to trying new approaches. But it does take awareness and a solid understanding of the issue. From there, it’s about working on frequency, quality, and duration.
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