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All Zoomed Out?

Article content THE CONVERSATION



This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site.



Are you all Zoomed out? How to deal with Zoom fatigue during the holiday season . Back to video



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Author: Jaigris HODSON, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University



Article content It's official. Across North America and most of Western Europe, the Christmas holidays are going to look very different this year. We've been told to use online tools to share the holiday spirit with our loved ones since the second outbreak of the pandemic. We may all be reluctant to go to holiday gatherings in person to prevent the spread of COVID-19 before there is a vaccine available.



Content of the article Unfortunately,, we've already been doing everything digitally from our homes for months and a lot of us are getting really exhausted of it all and for good reason.



So do we write off the holidays completely? Or do we try to find new ways to make things memorable? My research into digital literacy has revealed ways to connect this Christmas season, even when we stay physically apart.



Video is the answer to everything



The initial few months of the pandemic was filled with Zoom fever. People were working at a high speed at happy hour, board game nights and other events too. Many felt like they'd hit the wall. Zoom fatigue is real. Recent research suggests that we might be getting tired of trying to connect to video chat platforms like Zoom, Skype, Teams, and others.



Article content While you think about how you can bring joy to the holidays and you would like to know how to do it without using video chat, you also need to look for ways to avoid doing it all via video chat. Instead, you should learn from the ways digital natives use digital communication tools and enjoy the holiday season on a variety of platforms, as I'll explain below.



Different platforms for different social groups



My research has revealed that younger people aren't likely to utilize social media platforms in a way that is based on their relationship with these platforms. Teenagers utilize Snapchat to stay contact with their parents and teachers, while using Facebook for school. They interact with their friends in large-scale multiplayer games.
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This type of engagement with digital tech is good for everyone. If you're using Zoom for work, you might be interested in exploring other technologies to connect with family and friends. for example you could make use of apps like Rave, Airtime or Teleparty to watch movies synchronously with your friends. You could also visit your family and friends online in a game like Animal Crossing, World of Warcraft or Minecraft.



Article content Get digitally imaginative



There are numerous other ways you can connect with loved ones to spread holiday cheer. The sky, and your imagination are your only limit however here are some of my top suggestions:



Share and curate your music playlist. Research has revealed that music sharing is closely related to friendship. You can create an appropriate holiday music playlist on a streaming platform like Spotify, and share it with others this festive season. This can bring you closer together as you play online games, buy food, or send holiday memes to your WhatsApp group.



Text messages Text messages: A 2016 University of Minnesota study found that text messages are perceived as more intimate and warm than emails. Keep in touch with your loved ones during the holidays by texting frequently. You can also send emojis and gifs to your loved ones through your text messages to enhance your emotional connection.



Article content Host a virtual New Year's ceilidh on YouTube A Christmas supper is an important Scottish holiday tradition where family and friends gather to share songs, stories and dance. You can make an online ceilidh with the people you cherish by using a site like YouTube. Every participant can upload a video in which they sing, play a musical instrument, or tell a story. You can then organize the videos into playlists that your group can enjoy while eating their Christmas cookies. YouTube is a place where communities are formed and videos are shared.



Turn on your radio, tune in, then get out



The holidays can be stressful. You may feel tempted to accept every invitation. However, it is important to make time to get away from your electronic devices. If you suffer from Zoom fatigue, some universities recommend that doctoral students incorporate digital detox time into their schedules.



Article content Sometimes you'll really need videoconferencing platforms to recreate the atmosphere of a holiday dinner or cocktail event, so ensure you combat Zoom fatigue by balancing your video chatting with other methods to connect as described above.



Don't forget the old-fashioned ways to stay in touch even if you're not on your computer. You can send cards, phone or write your loved ones. These are moments that are often the most meaningful, as they are extremely rare in today's hyper-connected world.



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Jaigris Hodson is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Canada Research Chairs Program.



https://theconversation.com/all-zoomed-out-how-to-deal-with-zoom-fat https://theconversation.com/all-zoo


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