• Home
  • Courses by Subject
    • Accounting
      • Accounting
      • Bookkeeping
      • Payroll
      • Xero
    • Administration
      • Administration
      • Business Administration
      • Medical Secretary
      • Secretarial
    • Animal Health & Wellbeing
      • Animal Care
      • Vet Assistant
      • Zoology
    • Building & Construction
      • Construction
      • Landscaping
    • Business & Finance
      • Banking
      • Business
      • Business Communication
      • Business Management
      • Consultancy
      • Excel
      • Finance
      • Logistics
      • Sales
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Trading
    • Design
      • Graphic Design
      • Interior Design
      • Web Design
    • Digital Skills
      • Analytics
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing
      • CompTIA
      • CompTIA A+
      • Computer Science
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Cyber Security
      • Data Science
      • Ethical Hacking
      • IT
      • IT Support
      • Networking
      • Penetration Testing
      • Software Testing
    • Ecology
      • Environmental
      • Sustainability
    • Education
      • A-Level
      • GCSE
      • Teaching
      • Teaching Assistant
    • Fashion & Beauty
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Massage
      • Nail Technician
    • Health & Safety
      • Work Health & Safety
    • Healthcare
      • Care
      • Childcare
      • Counselling
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Disability
      • Health
      • Healthcare Management
      • Mental Health
      • Nursing
      • Nutrition
      • Personal Training
      • Psychology
      • Public Health
      • Social Care
    • Hospitality & Events
      • Event Management
      • Floristry
      • Hospitality
      • Wedding Planner
    • HR
      • CIPD
      • Human Resources
      • Learning & Development
    • Law & Justice
      • Criminology
      • Forensic Science
      • Law
      • Legal
    • Management & Leadership
      • Agile
      • Change Management
      • Leadership
      • Lean Six Sigma
      • Management
      • Operations Management
      • Personal Development
      • PRINCE2
      • Project Management
      • Quality Management
      • Real Estate
    • Marketing & Communication
      • Digital Marketing
      • Marketing
      • Media
      • Music
      • Public Relations
      • Social Media Marketing
    • Microsoft
      • Microsoft
      • Microsoft Azure
    • Programming
      • App Development
      • Cisco
      • Cisco CCNA
      • Coding
      • Programming
      • Python
      • Software Development
      • SQL
      • Web Development
    • Tourism
      • Travel & Tourism
    • University
      • Business Management
      • Business
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Criminology
      • Finance
      • IT
      • Law
      • Marketing
      • Psychology
    • Blended
    • In-class
    • Online
    • A-Level
    • Advanced Certificate
    • Advanced Diploma
    • Award
    • Bachelors
    • CertHE
    • Certificate
    • Certified
    • CPD
    • Diploma
    • ELCAS
    • Extended Diploma
    • Foundation
    • GCSE
    • Level 2
    • Level 3
    • Level 4
    • Level 5
    • Level 6
    • Level 7
    • Level 8
    • LLB
    • LLM
    • Masters
    • MBA
    • MSc
    • Postgraduate
    • Practitioner
    • Short
    • Undergraduate
    • University
  • Courses by Providers
    • Acudemy
    • Avado
    • BARBRI
    • Brunel University London
    • Career Smarter
    • CIPP
    • Course2Career
    • DLC Training
    • DPG
    • Hudson
    • ICS Learn
    • Institute of Supply Chain Mana
    • International Career Institute
    • ITonlinelearning
    • Learning People
    • London Academy of Trading
    • London College of Contemporary Music
    • London Governance & Compliance Academy
    • London School of Business and Finance Online
    • Next Level Impact
    • Online Courses Learning
    • Open Study College
    • Samuel & Co
    • The Career Academy
    • TPT Consultancy & Training
    • University College of Estate Management
    • University of Essex Online
    • University of Liverpool Online
    • University of Roehampton Online
    • Walbrook Institute London
    • Wise Global Training
    • How To Become
    • The Workforce Training Hub
    • Career Advice
    • Study Tips
    • Quizzes
    • Resources
    • Industry Insider
  • Top Courses
  • Become a Partner
  • Contact us
 

Published 9 Sep 2020

How to Combat Zoom Fatigue in 6 Simple Steps

by CoursesOnline Contributors

Browse Courses

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, people around the world have used Zoom to attend virtual business meetings and connect safely with loved ones. By April 2020, the video conferencing platform was attracting 300 million meeting participants every day, despite a number of security issues. This incredible success is reflected in the value of Zoom stock, which has risen by almost 400% over the past year.

But there is a downside to this amazing technology. Have you ever noticed that participating in Zoom meetings leaves you feeling drained? If you have, you could be suffering from a condition that’s become known as Zoom fatigue. Thankfully, there are a number of simple steps you can take to avoid experiencing the symptoms.

1. Start Well


If your lockdown Zoom meetings have been blighted by technical issues and distracting backdrops, it’s time to take action. There are several things you can do to make your next video chat less stressful.

 


  • Wi-Fi

    Make sure that your internet connection is stable. If it’s not, try moving your laptop closer to your router or disabling HD options. You could also check that no family members are streaming movies or gaming during your meeting.

  • Video & Sound

    Make sure you can be heard clearly. While your laptop should have a microphone, investing in a wireless headset will make a huge difference. You’ll get the chance to check the quality of your audio and video when you download Zoom.

  • Light

    Make sure that you sit somewhere well lit. Natural light is best, so if you’ve been cosying up in the darkest corner of your living room, try moving to an area that’s near to a window. Alternatively, you could buy a small webcam light.

  • Clutter-free

    Avoid cluttered backgrounds. If this is tricky, why not choose a backdrop from Zoom’s own selection? You can also upload your own backdrops.

  • Settings

    Make sure that you know how to mute and unmute, how to change view, how to comment and how to share your screen. If you need help with any of these features, the Zoom website has all the information you’ll need.

2. Turn off the Self-View Feature


Being on camera during Zoom meetings means that you’re having to stare at your own face for long periods of time. This is incredibly distracting, particularly if you’re self conscious about your appearance.

Thankfully, the creators of Zoom have provided an escape route- the ability to hide self view. But before you select this option, it’s always best to open up the camera app and test it out. Once you’ve checked that you’re looking presentable, that the lighting is okay and that you’re sitting in the right position, you’re good to go.

If you’re really struggling with watching yourself on camera, we recommend asking the meeting organiser whether you can just listen to the session, without appearing on camera. You could even opt to dial in via phone.

3. Choose Speaker View


Video calls require more concentration than face-to-face conversations, as they make it harder to pick up on non-verbal cues such as tone of voice, body language and facial expressions. Things become even more confusing when you’re faced with a gallery of up to 49 different faces set against distracting backgrounds.

To make your Zoom meeting less draining, we suggest selecting speaker view, which displays a large image of the current speaker and a smaller thumbnail of the previous speaker. As well as helping you to connect with the individuals on the screen, this option should make your video calling session feel a little more like a normal meeting.

4. Don’t Try to Multitask


While flicking through your emails during a video conference might seem like a good way to save time, it’s actually likely to make you less productive. According to social scientists at the University of Michigan, this is because people who multitask suffer from distraction and a reduced attention level compared with people who complete tasks consecutively.

Our recommendations? Set aside a couple of slots during the day to check your email box and your social media feeds, but avoid checking them when you’re in a virtual meeting. You can make this a little easier for yourself by closing any tempting tabs and popping your mobile phone into a drawer.

5. Take Breaks


Sitting still for long periods isn’t good for our health, according to scientific research.  So it’s best to take a break between Zoom meetings, even if you can only spare five or ten minutes. When you’re in the privacy of your own home, it’s easy to use this time to move around, stretch and generally recharge. 

Of course, working and socialising online can also have adverse effects on our waistlines, particularly if we don’t have much time in between video calls. To avoid this, stock up on healthy snacks like dried fruit, oat cakes, nuts and dark chocolate, as these will help you to stay energized without piling on weight.

6. Add Variety


If you find yourself feeling fatigued after a day of Zoom calls, try doing things a little differently the following day. You could even cancel one of your meetings and replace it with a good old-fashioned phone call or an email chat. And if you know that a particular meeting isn’t essential, don’t be afraid to say that you can’t make it. 

A change of place can also be energizing, so why not set up your computer in a  different room from time to time? If you’re craving fresh air and sunshine, relocating to a favourite spot by an open window could transform your day.

Whether you use it for work meetings, study or family catch ups, Zoom is likely to be part of our lives for the foreseeable future. So if you want to make the most of the platform’s features without feeling fatigued, simply follow the six steps we’ve shared.


Browse Courses

Enjoy this article?

Subscribe now to receive articles like these straight to your inbox
CoursesOnline Contributors

Navigator Illustration
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!
gator tooltip icon
Our course navigator helps refine thousands of courses into a personalised list that suits you. Click to answer each question, so we can provide you with the best possible courses, tailored to your preferences.
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!

Try our navigator tool and find the right course.

Start Here
Navigator Illustration

Related Articles


5 Inspirational People Whose Careers Changed the World

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the futur...

CoursesOnline Contributors
Sep 24, 2018
Read More

The 5 Minute Guide: How to Figure Out What To Do With Your Life, Fast

For you social butterflies and people who can’t stop moving,...

Claudia Reiners
Dec 13, 2018
Read More

5 Affordable Ways To Reinvigorate Your Mind, Body And Soul

Is the daily grind making you feel stressed, tired or unmoti...

CoursesOnline Contributors
Feb 28, 2019
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get expert advice, insights, and explainers on tricky topics — designed to help you navigate your learning journey with confidence.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"
  • Popular Subjects
  • Qualification Type
  • How to Become
  • Bookkeeping
  • Computer Science
  • Counselling
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Human Resources
  • IT
  • IT Support
  • Networking
  • Payroll
  • Psychology
  • University
  • Web Development
  • View More
  • Advanced Diploma
  • Bachelors
  • Certificate
  • Diploma
  • ELCAS
  • Foundation
  • Level 2
  • Level 3
  • Level 4
  • Level 5
  • Level 6
  • Level 7
  • Masters
  • MBA
  • MSc
  • Postgraduate
  • Short
  • Undergraduate
  • A-Level
  • Award
  • Practitioner
  • University
  • View More
  • How to Begin a Career in IT
  • How to Become a Bookkeeper
  • How to Begin a Career in Trading
  • How to Become a Change Management Consultant
  • How to Become a Cloud Architect
  • How to Become a Construction Health & Safety Officer
  • How to Become a Cryptocurrency Expert
  • How to Become a Forensic Scientist
  • How to Become a Financial Modeller
  • How to Become Java Certified
  • How to Become a Leadership Coach
  • How to Become a Manager
  • How to Become a Mentor
  • How to Become Microsoft Certified
  • How to Become a Psychologist
  • How to Become a Public Health Consultant
  • How to Become a Software Developer
  • How to Become a Software Tester
  • How to Start Your Career in Human Resources
  • How to Become Xero Certified
  • View More

Newsletter sign up

We'll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.
Courses
  • All Courses
  • Online Courses
Education Providers
  • Our Providers
Resources
  • Our Blog
  • How to Become
About us
  • About CoursesOnline
  • FAQs
Contact us
  • Advertise your course
  • Become an Affiliate
Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Certified B Corporation
Tafecourses Facebook Tafecourses LinkedIn Tafecourses Instagram
Certified B Corporation
Copyright © 2025 Coursesonline.co.uk
All Rights Reserved.
Back to Top

Newsletter Sign Up

We’ll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"

Coursesonline.co.uk uses cookies. By continuing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more.

GDPR - Logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Additional Cookies

This website uses additional cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy