TaskJugglers

We're learning more about why Zoom meetings — and videoconferences on similar platforms — can leave us drained. Stanford University published the first peer-reviewed study on the pandemic-era phenomenon and found that people are constantly looking at each other directly and up close, which is behaviour ordinarily reserved for close relationships. Also, nonverbal cues are harder to send and receive through video chats, and seeing yourself for extended periods of time and having limited mobility can become sources of stress. Researchers say their aim is "to isolate research areas for social scientists and to suggest design improvements for technologists."

Four causes for ‘Zoom fatigue’ and their solutions | Stanford News It’s not just Zoom. Popular video chat platforms have design flaws that exhaust the human mind and body. But there are easy ways to mitigate their effects.

"Chew on this! 😁
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"Words to live by from 'The Queen of All Media' 👑
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"Hey! How Was Your Trip?

Anyone missing their water cooler chats with colleagues? In today's work landscape where so many of us are working from home, small talk has all but vanished from our daily routines. The Harvard Business Review reminds us that even though most of our face-to-face time with coworkers is on Zoom, we can still incorporate banter in these virtual meetings, and doing so has tangible benefits. Follow these simple steps to bring back the small talk:

Small talk should be part of your meeting agenda.
Beginning meetings with an icebreaker or check-in can ignite conversations.

"Introduce agenda items designed around opinions and conjecture."

By including "unstructured time" at the end of meetings, you open the door for colleagues to continue chatting.

Make Time for Small Talk in Your Virtual Meetings A bit of banter can make a big difference.