Getting Involved: Zoom University, Zoom Fatigue, and Everything In-between

DEC. 4, 2020 | Doreen Hemmati

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I love getting involved. My freshman year it took little to convince me to go to new club meetings or random events on campus. My sophomore and junior year I was holding up to four leadership positions at a time. You could say I was a little too involved… and a little too burnt out. However, I made amazing memories, met all types of people, and learned a lot. 

When this semester rolled around, I knew I needed to tone it down. But being far away from San Diego, our beautiful campus, and all my peers didn’t sit well with me. COVID-19 and Zoom University present a unique challenge to students of all ages. We are spending more time online than ever, yet feeling more disconnected than ever. We are hungry for community more than ever, yet feeling more unmotivated to reach out than ever. Despite having a part time job and internship on top of school already, I decided to take the leap and join American Marketing Association. 

This was my first time joining a new organization since my freshman year. I was nervous as I smiled with my camera on through the first Zoom meeting of the semester. It wasn’t just a new experience, it was an awkward one. What is the protocol for student run organization Zoom calls? Do I keep my camera off? Do I chat before the meeting starts? So many questions with so many different answers. After one or two more meetings, the feelings of awkwardness and nervousness quickly faded. However, the feeling of Zoom fatigue quickly settled in. 

What is Zoom fatigue? The Psychiatric Times defines Zoom fatigue as “the tiredness, worry, or burnout associated with overusing virtual platforms of communication.” Why does it matter? Zoom fatigue is not just being tired of work or school, it is being tired of using these communication platforms altogether. This might mean skipping out on a happy hour with friends via Zoom/FaceTime or in my case, struggling to find the motivation to attend AMA meetings even though I enjoy them. 

This might not seem like a big deal, but in the age of COVID-19 when connecting with our peers and friends in person has become a rarity, it is so easy to become isolated. It is important to make sure you are doing both the people you care about and yourself a service by scheduling in time for genuine conversation outside of work and school. But it is also important to respect your own boundaries and be aware of your energy levels. Will one more event via Zoom, even if it’s a game night from your favorite organization, send you over the edge? 

Sadly, we don’t have a cure to Zoom fatigue other than increasing in-person interaction and decreasing online interaction which is not necessarily safe yet. But here are some tips to make Zoom University a little less painful:

1 - Set boundaries for school and work 

Don’t let school, work, and life blend all together. Set specific hours for work and specific hours for pleasure. For example, I don’t do anything school or work-related after 8 pm or on Fridays. 

2 - Schedule at least one fun online event a week 

Yes, the overuse of Zoom can be quite annoying. But what’s one more hour on Zoom a week especially if it's fun? Check out new organizations at your school, go to a work happy hour session, or plan an online reunion for an old group of friends! Having something to look forward to each week can alleviate feelings of repetitiveness and hopelessness. 

3 - Be honest with yourself

Living through COVID-19 is a challenge. Maybe you find yourself exhausted even on days where you don’t leave your bed. Get in tune with yourself: Would I feel better if I got some fun and lighthearted online interactions in? Am I feeling lonely? Do I need space away from screens, fresh air, and/or true rest? Depending on your answers, it might be a good idea to force yourself to attend that Zoom event or turn off all your electronics and enjoy real life. 

At the end of the day, we are all struggling to maintain a sense of community through this time. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Be gentle with yourself.