Discussion: View Thread

Headaches. Exhaustion. That feeling of dread when one more videoconference call is added to your schedule. The "optional" (but not really optional) team virtual lunch, coffee, or happy hour. The colleague who believes every discussion needs to be a video conference call when an email would have sufficed. 

'Zoom Fatigue' is real, and Forbes, USA Today, National Geographic, Psychology Today and more have reported on this concept in the last week, essentially saying that video conferencing is exhausting in part because your brain has to work harder in a virtual meeting than it does in an in-person meeting situation. If this is the first you've heard on this topic, I've summarized a bunch of information I've found in a blog HERE. 

Have you've experienced 'Zoom fatigue' (it's not limited to Zoom - it could be any type of virtual video conferencing)? What have you've tried that has worked for you to find relief or minimize it? 

------------------------------
Stephanie Slocum P.E., M.ASCE
Founder
Engineers Rising LLC
www.engineersrising.com
------------------------------

I am a little bit different and I enjoy the online conferences. I have experienced Zoom fatigue but there are a few ways that I "disconnect" while staying involved in the discussions. I turn my video and audio off and if you have a profile picture then its even better because it acts as a place holder. 

One of the most exhausting things about online meetings is the different background that everyone has to filter, and there is an online meeting crash, in the same way that we also feel exhausted after physical meetings. Maybe we forget that even if they are online meetings, we still need breaks and a moment to step away from those events, I guess in this case, it would be the computer/laptop.


Oanh T. Le,
ASCE Aff. Member

------------------------------
Oanh Le Aff.M.ASCE
Suwanee GA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-07-2020 03:26 PM
From: Stephanie Slocum
Subject: Are you experiencing 'Zoom Fatigue'?

Headaches. Exhaustion. That feeling of dread when one more videoconference call is added to your schedule. The "optional" (but not really optional) team virtual lunch, coffee, or happy hour. The colleague who believes every discussion needs to be a video conference call when an email would have sufficed.

'Zoom Fatigue' is real, and Forbes, USA Today, National Geographic, Psychology Today and more have reported on this concept in the last week, essentially saying that video conferencing is exhausting in part because your brain has to work harder in a virtual meeting than it does in an in-person meeting situation. If this is the first you've heard on this topic, I've summarized a bunch of information I've found in a blog HERE.

Have you've experienced 'Zoom fatigue' (it's not limited to Zoom - it could be any type of virtual video conferencing)? What have you've tried that has worked for you to find relief or minimize it? 

------------------------------
Stephanie Slocum P.E., M.ASCE
Founder
Engineers Rising LLC
www.engineersrising.com
------------------------------

Because humor can be a great way to process things, I have to share this link for a youtube video. I believe this video first came out about 6 years ago, but it's so fitting for today!

A Video Conference Call in Real Life

Strangely enough, the video is sponsored by Zoom! Enjoy!

------------------------------
Kelly Farabee P.E., P.T.O.E., M.ASCE
President, ASCE Savannah Branch
Savannah, GA
------------------------------