Zoomfatigue

Zoom fatigue, sometimes called video conferencing fatigue, is a form of mental and physical exhaustion linked to the use of video conferencing platforms. It is characterized by reduced energy, concentration, and motivation during or after virtual meetings.

Causes include several factors: high cognitive load from processing multiple streams of information; the need to actively monitor others' expressions; continuous self-monitoring due to seeing oneself on screen; limited physical movement; prolonged screen exposure; camera latency; and reduced nonverbal cues that normally aid communication.

Symptoms commonly reported include tiredness, headaches, eye strain, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbances. The effect can reduce productivity and influence mood, motivation, and social interaction both during and after meetings.

Context and risk factors: Zoom fatigue is more prevalent among individuals who rely on video meetings for long stretches, such as remote workers, educators, students, and teams coordinating across time zones. It can be exacerbated by back-to-back meetings, dense agendas, and a lack of breaks.

Mitigation strategies include reducing meeting load, scheduling short breaks between sessions, and using asynchronous communication when possible. Other approaches involve setting clear agendas, turning off self-view, prioritizing audio over video when appropriate, improving lighting and ergonomics, and encouraging movement between meetings. While not a medical diagnosis, research suggests that reducing cognitive load and improving platform design can alleviate some effects of Zoom fatigue.