IN BRIEF
Coping with “Zoom fatigue” The video conferencing technology helping us to stay audibly and visually connected has undoubtedly been a lifeline this year, but it is a new and unfamiliar communication method for many, and it can drain your energy. Gianpiero Petriglieri, an associate professor at Insead, who explores sustainable learning and development in the workplace spoke to BBC Worklife. He explained video chats require us to work harder to process non-verbal cues like facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, and body language. All of which demands a lot of energy. “Our minds are together when our bodies feel we’re not. That dissonance, which causes people to have conflicting feelings, is exhausting. You cannot relax into the conversation naturally,” he said. Silence can also be tricky. “Silence creates a natural rhythm in a real-life conversation. However, when it happens in a video call, you become anxious about the technology.” It can also make people feel awkward. Apparently delays of just 1.2 seconds can make people feel that others on the call are less friendly or unfocused. Psychology Today makes several recommendations, including:
Consider covering the image of yourself on the screen We do not usually watch ourselves as we communicate with others. This means our brains are analysing how we are presenting ourselves while also trying to follow the conversation. A strategically placed post-it note could be helpful.
This can actually feel like a more authentic and personal connection. It also means you can close your eyes or gaze out of a window if that helps you concentrate. Plus, you can also take notes with pen and paper, which has been shown to aid focus and retention.
Give yourself a break Don’t schedule back-to-back meetings. At least give yourself a chance to walk around, get some fresh air, have a good stretch and grab a drink.
Pick up the phone
Keep “office” and “living” areas separate
You could go one step further and chat on the phone for some of your one-to-one meetings.
If you can, try to keep work and home apart. Try to adopt habits that help you transition
Free online learning from Harvard University Harvard University offers dozens of free online courses through its own website and via the edX platform. The subjects span everything from Ancient Egyptian art and archaeology to the health effects of climate change to improving your business through a culture of health to web programming and game development. Go to online-learning.harvard.edu or www.edx.org/school/harvardx to find out more. 4
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from one mindset to another. For example, you could change the radio station you listen to, or have a mug that you use only during worktime.
Further reading: bbc.com/worklife/article/ 20200421-why-zoom-video-chatsare-so-exhausting psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ deviced/202004/why-video-chatsare-wearing-us-out psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetimeconnections/202004/zoom-fatigue-dont-letvideo-meetings-zap-your-energy
NZTA scam alerts: rego renewal and overdue toll e-mails There are scam e-mails circulating asking the recipient to renew their rego through a fake website or use an attachment to pay for “past tolls”. Genuine NZTA e-mails come only from @nzta.govt.nz. Scam e-mail addresses may look similar (e.g., nzta.co.nz or nzta.qovt.nz) and the message may be missing specific details, such as your vehicle make, plate number and rego expiry date. For more advice about how to spot and report a scam or phishing e-mail, go to nzta.govt.nz/online-services/ report-a-phishing-scam
