Many people are spending a lot of time on Zoom meetings and webinars (like hours a day), and you’re finding yourself worn out at the end of the day. So, why is Zoom so stressful.
Well, I’ve got several theories as to what’s happening and what you can do about it.
First of all, let’s talk about when we watch TV and an ad comes on. For most ads, they are designed to have the image change about every 2 or 3 seconds. You might not even be aware of it happening. The advertisers are doing that for a very specific reason. They are attempting to tap into the startle response which is a survival mechanism.
The picture you’re watching on the commercial changes to another image. The way your body responses is to view the jump from one image to the next as a potential threat. This increases your focus as you’re attempting to figure out of it is a real threat to your survival. Two to three seconds later, another image comes up and another and another. This keeps you focused on the ad, especially if it’s one you haven’t seen before.
Since the ad only runs for 30 to 60 seconds and there may be 5 or 6 commercials before you return to your regular program, its residual effect on your body is minimal.
If you’re on a Zoom meeting (or any other meeting platform) in Gallery mode, where you see everyone in boxes on screen, you’ll have someone almost always moving some part of their body. This triggers your eyes to go into a mild startle response.
If you’re in a Zoom meeting in presenter mode, the person who is talking is in center screen. If another person starts to talk, they go into center screen. And as it continues going from one person to another in center screen, you will be experiencing a mild startle response with each change.
If some people don’t have their mikes muted, they will keep showing up on screen when they make a sound. This again triggers a mild startle response.
If you’ve attending a webinar and the presenter is using PowerPoint, the startle effect will probably be very mild or not exist at all, since you know when the presenter will be changing the slide so you are subconsciously prepared for the change.
Being on Zoom for several hours will also affect your eyes. It’s been proven that just keeping your eyes focused on a computer screen for long periods of time can cause many uncomfortable eye-related symptoms, such as, eyestrain, dry eyes, headache, fatigue, difficulty focusing, blurred vision, and even shoulder and neck pain. Your eyes actually have to work harder to see close up verses far away.
The problem with all this is that you’re on the Zoom call or webinar for several hours and you wind up feeling exhausted by the end of it.
So, is there anything you can do about this? Here are several possible solutions:
1. You may be able to phone into the meeting, especially if there won’t be any screen sharing of slides or other information taking place. You’re listening, instead of looking.
2. Every few minutes, glance away from the screen to give your eyes a chance to change its focus.
3. This third idea is a unique one that I came up with. First, turn your camera and mike off. Next, take a piece of cardboard large enough to cover the screen and put it in front of the monitor. This way you can just use your ears to listen.
If there is something you need to see on screen, you simply flip the cardboard down so you can see what’s on screen. If you need to share something, after you’ve moved the cardboard out of the way, you can turn your mike and camera back on. When you’re done speaking, turn the mike and camera off and put the cardboard back in place.
The end result, you should feel better at the end of the meeting or webinar- no headache, eye strain or exhaustion! So…bring on those Zoom meetings!
Well, I’ve got several theories as to what’s happening and what you can do about it.
First of all, let’s talk about when we watch TV and an ad comes on. For most ads, they are designed to have the image change about every 2 or 3 seconds. You might not even be aware of it happening. The advertisers are doing that for a very specific reason. They are attempting to tap into the startle response which is a survival mechanism.
The picture you’re watching on the commercial changes to another image. The way your body responses is to view the jump from one image to the next as a potential threat. This increases your focus as you’re attempting to figure out of it is a real threat to your survival. Two to three seconds later, another image comes up and another and another. This keeps you focused on the ad, especially if it’s one you haven’t seen before.
Since the ad only runs for 30 to 60 seconds and there may be 5 or 6 commercials before you return to your regular program, its residual effect on your body is minimal.
If you’re on a Zoom meeting (or any other meeting platform) in Gallery mode, where you see everyone in boxes on screen, you’ll have someone almost always moving some part of their body. This triggers your eyes to go into a mild startle response.
If you’re in a Zoom meeting in presenter mode, the person who is talking is in center screen. If another person starts to talk, they go into center screen. And as it continues going from one person to another in center screen, you will be experiencing a mild startle response with each change.
If some people don’t have their mikes muted, they will keep showing up on screen when they make a sound. This again triggers a mild startle response.
If you’ve attending a webinar and the presenter is using PowerPoint, the startle effect will probably be very mild or not exist at all, since you know when the presenter will be changing the slide so you are subconsciously prepared for the change.
Being on Zoom for several hours will also affect your eyes. It’s been proven that just keeping your eyes focused on a computer screen for long periods of time can cause many uncomfortable eye-related symptoms, such as, eyestrain, dry eyes, headache, fatigue, difficulty focusing, blurred vision, and even shoulder and neck pain. Your eyes actually have to work harder to see close up verses far away.
The problem with all this is that you’re on the Zoom call or webinar for several hours and you wind up feeling exhausted by the end of it.
So, is there anything you can do about this? Here are several possible solutions:
1. You may be able to phone into the meeting, especially if there won’t be any screen sharing of slides or other information taking place. You’re listening, instead of looking.
2. Every few minutes, glance away from the screen to give your eyes a chance to change its focus.
3. This third idea is a unique one that I came up with. First, turn your camera and mike off. Next, take a piece of cardboard large enough to cover the screen and put it in front of the monitor. This way you can just use your ears to listen.
If there is something you need to see on screen, you simply flip the cardboard down so you can see what’s on screen. If you need to share something, after you’ve moved the cardboard out of the way, you can turn your mike and camera back on. When you’re done speaking, turn the mike and camera off and put the cardboard back in place.
The end result, you should feel better at the end of the meeting or webinar- no headache, eye strain or exhaustion! So…bring on those Zoom meetings!
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