Zoom workouts and video meetings have become the new norm this year. In April of 2020, Zoom announced it had over 300 million daily meeting participants. But as popular as the Zoom option is for meetings, it’s created another issue — a phenomenon known as “Zoom Fatigue” So it’s now important to understand how to fight it, so you can continue to be productive and avoid staff and members switching off
What is Zoom Fatigue?
Have you ever wondered why you’re so tired even though all you’ve done is sit in your chair all day?
Zoom meetings drain your energy more than face-to-face meetings due to a change in meeting behaviour and overstimulation. We attempt to ward off new distractions like pets barking or children screaming, all while paying attention to a speaker. This can create a great amount of additional tension as you conduct your virtual meetings. Not to mention the added pressure of feeling “on” for a meeting and being ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
Zoom meetings also cause over-stimulation. Not only are you looking for visual cues and trying to stay engaged in your meeting, but you’re observing multiple people in multiple environments. Prior to Zoom, you probably didn’t care what your members home gym looked like. But now, in addition to participating in a virtual meeting and virtual workouts, you also might be analysing their choice of paint colours or the books on their shelves. This extra stimulation is too much and slowly chips away at you!
These are steps you can take to maximise remote sessions while preserving your energy (and membership numbers).
1. Eliminate Distractions
By eliminating all distractions, you can make your Zoom calls better quality and less stressful. Turn off your phone and emails during calls.
2. Avoid Multitasking
Studies suggest multitasking actually reduce your productivity by up to 40%. Give yourself permission to concentrate on one task at a time. You’ll pay closer attention and not feel as overwhelmed at the end of multiple sessions.
3. Adjust Your Screen Settings
- Stop Looking At Yourself. Yes, you are handsome. You are beautiful. Your skin looks amazing. By turning off the self-view feature, you will have one less distraction. Others can still see you, but you’re not preoccupied with looking at yourself.
- Choose Speaker View. You can also select the Speaker View in Zoom so you only focus on the person who is talking. This keeps you from constantly looking at others on the call.
- Utilise a Live Caption Service like REV. Adding live captions to Zoom calls can help participants stay more engaged and focused, ensuring everyone on the call can understand the message. A service such as Rev’s Zoom live closed captions, allows the information to be accessible to all participants, which makes everyone more productive.
4. Don’t go ‘back to back’ and tie a bow on the last meeting
If you’re the one leading the Zoom call, take a few moments after each call to make quick notes, send a quick link or email and ‘tie a bow on that last meeting’ so you can close it in your mind BEFORE moving on. (be sure to finish each meeting 5minutes before then next). When starting each new meeting – do a meet and greet and start with a quick summary of your agenda before getting into it, to help refresh your memory and your guests what the purpose of the meeting is before you kick-off
5. Meet and Greet
If you were participating in a face to face workout or meeting, you wouldn’t walk into a room and immediately start exercising. No, you would greet people, say hello and build rapport. You would give late people a few minutes to get set up. The same principle applies in Zoom calls. NOTE: the unscripted banter and fun chit chat at the start is what humans crave most and is essential for retention
6. Short and Punchy
Aim to hold fewer zoom sessions each week and instead make each session shorter and more energetic. Get live feedback using microphones and chat and mix up your backgrounds or try fancy dress to lighten the mood.
7. Take Regular Breaks and Walk
Even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, research shows taking a walk can help boost your mood and lessen stress. Stand between meetings, increase blood flow, stretch, hit your foam roller, change your scenery, get some fresh air and take a brisk walk you fight the onset of Zoom Fatigue.
Fight Zoom Fatigue and Retain more members!
It’s very likely the need for Virtual Workouts and Virtual Meetings will remain very important for the next few years so develop you zoom skills and adapt now!
If you liked this BLOG you might also like STEVE’S TOP 10 TIPS FOR USING ZOOM – for Studio Owners – VIDEO TRAINING
