The number of reasons for why online meetings are tiring can be numerous. For one thing, working from home requires more cognitive processing power than a face-to-face meeting. There are also multiple alerts popping up on the screen and multi-tasking. Moreover, technological glitches are another cause for fatigue. There are solutions to these problems: video-conferencing, which allows for the participants to see each other clearly. Nevertheless, the most important tip to overcome the fatigue that online meetings cause is to turn on speaker view and avoid distractions.
Zoom meetings require more cognitive processing power than face-to-face meetings
According to a study, Zoom meetings require more cognitive processing power than face to face meetings, which is a direct result of a reduced naturalness of the communication medium. The absence of body language, eye contact, and other aspects of social interaction makes videoconferencing seem less authentic. This lack of information may lead the brain to compensate by increasing computations, which can be stressful. Therefore, videoconferencing can lead to fatigue and poorer communication outcomes.
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Another factor is the reduced visual cues. During a Zoom meeting, participants don’t necessarily look at the speaker, but instead, may be distracted by objects in the room or by other people. This can result in a sense of being stared at, which can cause physiological arousal. These issues can be mitigated by setting a time for test meetings, and using asynchronous content instead of real-time content.
Working from home can be exhausting
Despite the convenience of video conferencing, working from home can be incredibly draining. Video meetings can cause anxiety, depression, and lowered motivation. These factors contribute to burnout, which is a significant factor in many cases. To avoid burnout, you should learn how to balance work with family life. If you feel overwhelmed by meetings, seek help. Consider how much of your life is affected by the meetings you attend.
A recent Harvard Business Review article suggested that working from home can be exhausting when attending virtual meetings. According to the authors, participants in remote work environments are more likely to extend their workdays, even after the meetings are over. This may explain why the average workday lengthens by as much as 50 minutes. In addition, the time spent on online meetings can be disproportionately longer than the equivalent amount of face-to-face meetings.
Turn on speaker view to make people see you clearly
You can turn on speaker view to make people see you clearly during online meetings. Typically, online meetings have a delay due to the nature of the connection, so the video of a single participant will be smaller at the top. Then, you can switch to a different view, like the presenter’s screen. This setting is very useful when you need to be able to show others your screen clearly.
The speaker view feature on conference call systems allows people to see everyone’s face and is helpful for social parts of the meeting. The speaker view, on the other hand, makes the person who is speaking the focus of the meeting, so that the rest of the group can see the face of the person talking. This option is particularly helpful for meetings where a speaker is required to give instructions and make presentations.
Avoid distractions
When attending online meetings, there are several ways to avoid being distracted. It is important to silence your phone, close all unnecessary tabs, and keep your workspace free of distractions. You can even consider joining the meeting from a different location, such as a coffee shop. A change in scenery can improve your concentration and increase your ability to concentrate. Try not to eat or type on your computer, as these are major distractions that may cause your attention to wander. If necessary, mute your mic.
Another way to avoid distractions when attending online meetings is to avoid multitasking. Although multitasking is common nowadays, it is not considered proper virtual meeting etiquette. Try not to type with a mouse or keyboard, as it may cause other participants to be distracted as well. If you must type, invest in a high-quality keyboard to prevent this problem. Alternatively, use a notebook and pen to take notes.