Combat Zoom Fatigue

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Do You Like Video Calls? 💻🎥

Aprende vocabulario, expresiones y gramática en inglés mientras descubres qué es la fatiga por videollamadas y cómo reducirla.

Nivel recomendado B1–B2

Tema Videollamadas y trabajo remoto

Habilidades Reading, grammar y speaking

💻 What Is Video-Call Fatigue?

As more people use video conferencing for work, education and social activities, many are experiencing what is commonly called video-call fatigue or Zoom fatigue.

Researchers have identified several factors that make online meetings mentally and physically tiring. These include prolonged eye contact, limited movement, constant self-view and the extra effort required to interpret nonverbal communication.

The phenomenon is not limited to the Zoom platform. However, because Zoom became widely used, the word Zoom is sometimes used as a general synonym for video conferencing, just as googling is commonly used to mean searching online.

👀 Personal Space and Eye Contact

Why can video calls feel uncomfortable?

During an in-person meeting, people naturally look at the speaker, their notes, the presentation or other objects in the room. In a video call, however, participants often feel as if everyone is looking directly at them all the time.

Long periods of close-up eye contact can feel intense and stressful. The size of the faces on the screen can also create the sensation that other people are standing inside our personal space.

A person’s intimate space generally extends approximately 60 centimetres around the body. Depending on the monitor size and video settings, participants’ faces may appear much closer than they would during a normal conversation.

Helpful tip:
Reduce the size of the video-conferencing window and sit farther away from the monitor. This may create a greater sense of personal space.

🪞 Hide Your Self-View

Seeing ourselves continuously during a video call can be tiring. In real life, we do not have a small camera following us and showing our face every time we speak.

When people stare at their own image for long periods, they may become more self-conscious and more critical of their appearance, gestures and facial expressions.

Once your camera is positioned correctly, use the Hide Self-View option. Other participants will still see you, but you will no longer have to look at your own image.

The correct expression is Hide Self-View, not Wide Self-View.

🚶 Get Moving

During face-to-face conversations, people naturally move around the room, stand while presenting information or walk while thinking. Video calls often require people to remain in the same position for a long time.

Using an external camera can provide more distance between you and the computer, allowing you to move more naturally. Audio-only meetings can also make it easier to stand, stretch or walk.

When possible, schedule short breaks between meetings. Stand up, stretch your shoulders, look away from the screen and walk for a few minutes.

🤝 Nonverbal Communication

In face-to-face conversations, people use eye contact, gestures, posture, facial expressions and body language to communicate naturally.

During video calls, these nonverbal signals are more difficult to observe and interpret. Participants may need to exaggerate gestures or facial expressions to show agreement, interest or understanding.

This additional mental effort can contribute to fatigue. Audio-only breaks during the day may reduce the pressure to perform visually and interpret every gesture on the screen.

✅ 13 Tips for a Successful Video Call

1. Mute yourself Mute your microphone when you are not speaking.

2. Be on time Join the meeting a few minutes before it begins.

3. Test your technology Check your camera, microphone and internet connection.

4. Engage remote participants Ask questions and include everyone in the conversation.

5. Choose suitable equipment Use reliable software, headphones and a good microphone.

6. Dress appropriately Wear clothing suitable for work or study.

7. Frame the camera correctly Position your face in the centre of the image.

8. Use good lighting Place a light source in front of you, not behind you.

9. Look into the camera This creates the impression of eye contact.

10. Pay attention Avoid checking messages or doing unrelated tasks.

11. Do not interrupt Wait until the other person has finished speaking.

12. Check whether you are live Make sure your microphone and camera are off when necessary.

13. Give people notice Do not start an unexpected video call without asking first.

🧠 Grammar Focus

1. Present simple

Usamos el present simple para hablar de hechos, hábitos y situaciones generales.

Subject + base verb

People use video calls for work.
Eye contact creates stress.
Online meetings require concentration.

She uses video conferencing every day.
Ella utiliza videoconferencias todos los días.

2. Present continuous

Usamos el present continuous para acciones que están ocurriendo ahora o alrededor del momento presente.

am / is / are + verb-ing

Many people are working remotely.
We are using a video platform today.

3. Present perfect

El present perfect conecta una acción pasada con el presente.

have / has + past participle

Researchers have identified several causes of video-call fatigue.
Los investigadores han identificado varias causas de la fatiga por videollamadas.

Have you experienced Zoom fatigue?
¿Has experimentado fatiga por Zoom?

4. Modal verb: should

Should se utiliza para dar recomendaciones.

Subject + should + base verb

You should take regular breaks.
You should move away from the monitor.

Después de should, usamos el verbo en forma base.

You should move. ✅
You should moved. ❌

5. Modal verb: can

Can expresa posibilidad o capacidad.

An external camera can provide more freedom of movement.
Audio-only meetings can reduce fatigue.

6. Gerunds after prepositions

Después de una preposición usamos normalmente un verbo terminado en -ing.

Reduce fatigue by taking breaks.
Avoid stress by hiding your self-view.
Think before starting an unexpected call.

7. Infinitive of purpose

Usamos to + verb para explicar la finalidad de una acción.

Use good lighting to improve your image.
Take breaks to reduce fatigue.
Look at the camera to create eye contact.

8. Comparatives

Utilizamos comparativos para comparar dos situaciones.

comparative adjective + than

Video calls can be more tiring than phone calls.
Audio-only meetings may be less stressful than video meetings.

9. Passive voice

La voz pasiva es frecuente en artículos informativos y científicos.

subject + be + past participle

Zoom is used by millions of people.
Nonverbal cues are interpreted differently online.

10. Unlike

Unlike significa a diferencia de.

Unlike face-to-face meetings, video calls limit natural movement.
A diferencia de las reuniones presenciales, las videollamadas limitan el movimiento natural.

📚 Key Vocabulary

English	Español	Example
video call	videollamada	We have a video call every Monday.
video conferencing	videoconferencia	Video conferencing is common in remote work.
fatigue	fatiga	Long meetings can cause fatigue.
personal space	espacio personal	Large faces on a screen can reduce personal space.
eye contact	contacto visual	Eye contact is important during conversations.
to stare	mirar fijamente	Do not stare at your own image.
self-view	vista propia	You can hide your self-view.
participant	participante	Every participant should introduce themselves.
gesture	gesto	Gestures can be difficult to interpret online.
nonverbal cue	señal no verbal	Facial expressions are nonverbal cues.
to mute	silenciar	Please mute your microphone.
lighting	iluminación	Good lighting improves video quality.
background	fondo	Choose a clean and professional background.
remote work	trabajo remoto	Remote work often requires online meetings.
to interrupt	interrumpir	Do not interrupt when someone is speaking.

💬 Useful Expressions

Mute yourself

Please mute yourself when you are not speaking.
Silencia tu micrófono cuando no estés hablando.

Join the meeting

I will join the meeting at 10:00.
Entraré a la reunión a las 10:00.

Share your screen

Can you share your screen, please?
¿Puedes compartir tu pantalla, por favor?

You are on mute

We cannot hear you. You are on mute.
No podemos escucharte. Tienes el micrófono silenciado.

The connection is unstable

Your voice is breaking up because the connection is unstable.
Tu voz se entrecorta porque la conexión es inestable.

Could you repeat that?

Sorry, I did not hear you. Could you repeat that?
Lo siento, no te escuché. ¿Podrías repetirlo?

🔎 Reading Comprehension

1. What is video-call fatigue?
2. Why can close-up eye contact be stressful?
3. Why is seeing yourself constantly tiring?
4. How can an external camera help?
5. Why is nonverbal communication more difficult online?
6. What should you do when you are not speaking?

Ver las respuestas

1. It is mental and physical tiredness caused by long or frequent video meetings.
2. Because faces appear very close and participants may feel that everyone is staring at them.
3. Because people may become more self-conscious and critical of their appearance.
4. It creates more distance and allows greater freedom of movement.
5. Because gestures, posture and facial expressions are more difficult to observe and interpret.
6. You should mute your microphone.

✏️ Grammar Practice

Completa las oraciones con la forma correcta de las palabras entre paréntesis.

1. Many people video conferencing for work. (use)
2. Researchers have several causes of fatigue. (identify)
3. You should regular breaks. (take)
4. Reduce stress by your self-view. (hide)
5. Use good lighting your image. (improve)
6. Video calls can be than audio calls. (tiring)

Ver las respuestas

1. use
2. identified
3. take
4. hiding
5. to improve
6. more tiring

🧩 Choose the Correct Option

1. You should mute / muted your microphone.
2. Many employees are working / work from home today.
3. Reduce fatigue by taking / take short breaks.
4. Use the camera to create / creating eye contact.
5. Video calls are often more tiring than / most tiring phone calls.
6. Zoom is used / use by many organisations.

Ver las respuestas

1. mute
2. working
3. taking
4. to create
5. more tiring than
6. used

🗣️ Speaking Practice

Responde las siguientes preguntas en inglés:

1. Do you enjoy video calls?
2. How many online meetings do you have every week?
3. Which video-conferencing platform do you use?
4. What do you find tiring about video calls?
5. Do you prefer video meetings or audio-only meetings?
6. What advice would you give for a successful online meeting?

Example:

I use video calls several times a week for work. They are useful because I can communicate with colleagues in different countries. However, long meetings can be tiring, so I try to take short breaks and hide my self-view.

📝 Writing Activity

Escribe entre 80 y 120 palabras sobre tu experiencia con las videollamadas.

You can include:

• how often you have video calls;
• which platform you use;
• what you like about online meetings;
• what you find difficult;
• how you reduce video-call fatigue;
• your advice for other participants.

Final thought:

Video calls can connect people across the world, but healthy boundaries, movement and good communication habits make them more effective and less tiring. 💻🌍