I'd neither used nor heard of the application until two weeks ago, when my departing boss's daughter threw her a virtual retirement "party" that I and several other co-workers were invited to attend.
I must say, it quickly grew on me. The coolest feature in my estimation is the ability to change out your background, making it appear as though you're at Walt Disney World, in the Simpsons' living room, or wherever else tickles your fancy.
And, this past weekend, I joined the wifey for a Zoom chat with a close friend and colleague of hers.
There's no denying that Zoom is all the rage now. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing us to stay indoors, everything from birthday celebrations to corporate budget meetings are being carried out through the service.
Surprisingly, though, people have told me that while while these platforms offer convenience, they find video conferencing to be stressful, and they can't quite put their finger on why.
If you or someone you know is also experiencing Zoom fatigue, here are a few notable considerations:
1. Being on a video call requires more focus than a face-to-face conversation. Video chats mean we need to work harder to process myriad non-verbal cues, from body language and the pitch and tone of the participants' voice to their facial expressions. Having to pay more attention calls for burning more energy.
2. Although Zoom chats might feel like a meeting of the minds, a meeting of our bodies they are not. That disconnect, or dissonance, which causes people to have conflicting feelings, is draining. It makes it more difficult to relax into the conversation naturally.
3. Silence can be more awkward. On the flip side, people can joust to put a word in edgewise. In person, it's easier to fill silence or call attention to oneself by chit chatting, standing, or raising one's hand. Although a moderator can move the conversation along in a Zoom environment, sometimes participants find themselves unsure as to when they should speak up -- unless, of course, they're called upon.
4. You feel self-conscious. Not only can you see yourself, which can be unnerving, but others are staring at you -- and it's not easy to tell who or when. Just because you haven't said a peep for 15 minutes doesn't mean no one caught you picking your nose. In a sense, Zoom can almost feel like your privacy is being invaded.
5. Disruptions galore. The pizza man knocks on the door. Your kid sneaks behind you and starts making silly faces, yielding laughs from the participants. Your energetic dog keeps jumping on the table, nearly causing the laptop to fall on the floor. These are all rather embarrassing things you wouldn't have to worry about in person (unless you had company at home, maybe).
6. Bathroom break, anyone? Stepping away to use the John feels less shameful in person than while in these video chats.
7. Intruder alert: Unless the host makes the chat private, sending a password only to those he or she wishes to invite, people can actually hack into your conversation.
If you're experiencing Zoom fatigue, here are a few suggestions:
1. Ask the host whether it's necessary for you to enable video. Zoom does allow you to participate via audio only if you so choose.
2. Suggest other ways to conduct the meeting. Maybe a phone call will do, or perhaps key points can be exchanged via text or email.
3. Try not to sweat it. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels forced into this, and who wishes to get out of there as soon as possible! Thankfully, the free version (which most people use) caps meetings of multiple participants at 40 minutes.
Until things go back to normal, it looks like many of us are stuck communicating through programs like Zoom. But as I noted earlier, it's really not that bad once you give it a try.
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