With the coronavirus pandemic still unfolding, video calls are becoming increasingly important. Maybe historians will debate about how this technology solution helped economy stay in motion. The reality right now is that video call fatigue is on the rise among remote workers.
If you are one of them, follow these four tips to make the most of your time in front of the screen.
Acknowledge Video Call Fatigue
In our effort to keep up with work and establish a sense of normalcy, we may forget how exceptionally tiring these circumstances are. Many of us changed habits in a matter of weeks while fulfilling our day-to-day obligations and facing a pandemic. It’s normal to feel depleted. So, the first step is to accept that some aspects of this experience (such as video meetings) are hard. It’s OK to give yourself some slack.
Avoid Scheduling Back-to-Back Meetings
We know, there’s a lot to be done, and your business must keep moving forward. But avoid scheduling back-to-back meetings. Leave a gap of five or ten minutes between meetings. Use that time to rest your eyes or do some pushups. Keep in mind that you are exerting an effort during a video call. You are trying to overcommunicate to offset the information loss due to the lack of physical interaction. In addition, staying static and rigid in order to stay in frame can be tiring as well.
Consider Other Alternatives
Reconsider your scheduled video calls and try to determine whether you can have that conversation over the phone, by email or text chat. Video meeting fatigue is becoming commonplace, so if you feel it’s appropriate you can even ask the other person to switch communication channels. Probably the change will make them feel relieved as well.
Avoid Multitasking
Multitasking is a big temptation for people working from home. With constant updates and breaking news, the nature itself of the current situation seems to invite multitasking. However, keep in mind that multitasking actually makes you less effective. Your productivity may go down as much as 40% when you multitask. In addition, getting used to doing too many things at once shortens your attention span and may cause chronic stress.
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