How a year of working on Zoom has affected your brain

your new work normal has likely included wearing pajamas from the waist down, juggling kids or furry friends during important discussions with coworkers, and trying not to fight with your device over a useless Internet connection. We're here to add other things to your work from home to do list. Follow this list of zoom etiquette to help you keep your job as reported by half, post etiquette expert Nick Leighton says. In general, if you wouldn't do it in an in person meeting, you probably shouldn't do it on Zoom. This includes gossiping. Refrain from talking about your colleagues. It is both rude and potentially detrimental to your career. Seen it suggests you turn your phone on silent or, better still, switch it off or on flight mode. Resist temptation to look at it or use it. We guarantee your instagram posts can wait. No one wants to see what you're having for lunch, even if you're proud of your culinary skills. Also, if you're not on mute, the sound of someone chewing is an appetizing for anyone's ears. Similarly to warning you, this video is about to end, and it's been lovely sharing this time with you. Psychology today says a graceful exit without drawing too much attention to yourself will help you leave a good impression literally.

We have passed a year since the initial COVID-19 shutdowns. That means a year of working from home, business casual from the waist up, and staring at your colleagues' faces in a 13-inch grid.Zoom has become a huge part of today's work flow, with a 470% increase in customers having more than 10 employees from this time last year, the company says.But how has the past year of virtual conference calls affected your brain? A Stanford analysis explains with a breakdown of the four causes of "zoom fatigue."'Fight or flight' survivalYou don't expect primordial instincts to kick in during your 9 a.m. meeting. But that's exactly what happens, says Jeremy Bailenson, Stanford communications professor.That grid of faces simulates an encounter where you're faced with a confrontation in a small space.In similar situations, like an elevator, people usually keep their eyes to the ground and avoid close confrontation. But a Zoom call "smothers everyone with gaze," so thought they are just staring at a camera, it simulates a confrontation and triggers your fight-or-flight instincts.Non-verbal internet cuesWe are not used to socializing in this environment and picking up non-verbal cues virtually.Plus, we feel so distant from others on the call that we overcompensate, and "people speak 15% louder when interacting on video" compared to in-person interactions, according to the study.Constant mirror and self-evaluationImagine if you had an assistant following you with a mirror so you could constantly see your own face.It's not narcissism; it's what happens on every Zoom call. And if you find yourself staring at that one little box that contains your own face, you're not the only one.The constant self-evaluation can make you more stressed, and science says the effects are worse on women. Bailenson mentions a separate study that concludes that long periods of self-focusing can "prime women to experience depression."Stuck in the boxZoom fatigue traps us in a box. This can limit our mental ability.We stay still so we don't leave the frame, and this causes our minds to act differently than when we're able to move around.In fact, "people who are walking, even when it is indoors, come up with more creative ideas than people who are sitting." So video conferences literally stop us from thinking outside of the box.So what do I do now?Bailenson doesn't see Zoom disappearing any time soon. But we're not hopelessly sentenced to its fatigue.The most helpful change you can make when video conferencing: Collapse that self-image box so it's out of view. Bailenson says "it will be like a weight taken off your shoulders."Use an external web cam, or opt for more phone call meetings — so you can get up and think out of that Zoom box.

We have passed a year since the initial COVID-19 shutdowns. That means a year of working from home, business casual from the waist up, and staring at your colleagues' faces in a 13-inch grid.

Zoom has become a huge part of today's work flow, with a 470% increase in customers having more than 10 employees from this time last year, the company says.

But how has the past year of virtual conference calls affected your brain? A explains with a breakdown of the four causes of "zoom fatigue."

'Fight or flight' survival

You don't expect primordial instincts to kick in during your 9 a.m. meeting. But that's exactly what happens, says Jeremy Bailenson, Stanford communications professor.

That grid of faces simulates an encounter where you're faced with a confrontation in a small space.

In similar situations, like an elevator, people usually keep their eyes to the ground and avoid close confrontation. But a Zoom call "smothers everyone with gaze," so thought they are just staring at a camera, it simulates a confrontation and triggers your fight-or-flight instincts.

Non-verbal internet cues

We are not used to socializing in this environment and picking up non-verbal cues virtually.

Plus, we feel so distant from others on the call that we overcompensate, and "people speak 15% louder when interacting on video" compared to in-person interactions, according to the study.

Constant mirror and self-evaluation

Imagine if you had an assistant following you with a mirror so you could constantly see your own face.

It's not narcissism; it's what happens on every Zoom call. And if you find yourself staring at that one little box that contains your own face, you're not the only one.

The constant self-evaluation can make you more stressed, and science says the effects are worse on women. Bailenson mentions a separate study that concludes that long periods of self-focusing can "prime women to experience depression."

Stuck in the box

Zoom fatigue traps us in a box. This can limit our mental ability.

We stay still so we don't leave the frame, and this causes our minds to act differently than when we're able to move around.

In fact, "people who are walking, even when it is indoors, come up with more creative ideas than people who are sitting." So video conferences literally stop us from thinking outside of the box.

So what do I do now?

doesn't see Zoom disappearing any time soon. But we're not hopelessly sentenced to its fatigue.

The most helpful change you can make when video conferencing: Collapse that self-image box so it's out of view. Bailenson says "it will be like a weight taken off your shoulders."

Use an external web cam, or opt for more phone call meetings — so you can get up and think out of that Zoom box.

��vlog