Tech Tips, 0221 WYBJ, Vol. 43 No. 1. 60
| Author | Blake A. Klinkner Washburn University School of Law Topeka, Kansas |
| Position | Vol. 43 1 Pg. 60 |
Blake A. Klinkner Washburn University School of Law Topeka, Kansas
Best Tips for Healthy & Happy Videoconferencing
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has caused most of us to spend much more time trapped in videoconferences than ever before, and it now seems that in post-pandemic times, frequent videoconferencing will be the “new norm.” However, it has become clear that frequent videoconferencing can lead to exhaustion, discontent, and increased stress. In fact, the term “Zoom fatigue” recently entered our lexicon and is a term that generally describes a common feeling of burnout relating to incessant videoconferencing.
The following are some simple, yet effective, tips for avoiding videoconferencing fatigue. By employing these tips, virtual meeting participants should end their meetings, and their work weeks, feeling healthier and happier than they would otherwise.
Avoid Multitasking
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone thought he or she was good at multitasking and tried to take advantage of multitasking during video meetings (cleaning and organizing the office during CLEs, anyone?). Now that so many more meetings are taking place over videoconference, the opportunities and temptations to multitask have increased severalfold. However, what we often fail to realize is that we were never good at multitasking in the first place; experts agree that the human mind is only capable of juggling a handful of tasks at any given time, and only minimal attention can be paid to each juggled task. Accordingly, trying to multitask during the multitude of virtual meetings occurring each week can lead to frustration when we realize that we actually weren’t able to accomplish as much in the background as we were hoping and that we simultaneously didn’t get as much out of our actual meetings because we were unfocused.
Turn on Your Camera, Even When You Are Not Speaking
Having now taught three semesters of law school remotely, one thing that is clear is that students who turn on their cameras during Zoom sessions are more engaged, perform better, and enjoy class more than students who keep their cameras off. The same outcomes may be found outside of the classroom setting and in other virtual meetings – turning your camera on during videoconference calls will result in you being more engaged, leaving meetings feeling more...
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