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All Zoomed Out?

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The article was first published by The Conversation, an independent non-profit source of news analysis, analysis, and comment from academics. Disclosure information is available on the original website.



Are you all Zoomed out? Zoom fatigue during the holiday season: How to deal



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



Article content It's official. In North America and most of Western Europe, the Christmas celebrations will look completely different this year. Since the second wave of the pandemic hit and we've been instructed to utilize virtual tools to connect with family and friends to share some holiday cheer. In reality, we could be the only ones to participate in in-person celebrations to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 before the announcement of the vaccine.



Content for articles Unfortunately, however, we've already been doing everything digitally from our homes for months, and most of us are getting bored of the whole process, with good reason.



Do we just forget about holidays? Or do we try to find new ways to make them memorable? My research on digital literacy reveals ways that we can be connected this season of giving even when we are physically apart.



Video is the answer to everything



Zoom fever was all over the country during the initial months of this pandemic. People were also speeding to work, happy hour and board game nights, as well as other events. Many felt as if they had hit the wall. Zoom fatigue is real. And recent research suggests that the constant efforts to connect using video chat platforms (Zoom, Skype, Teams and similar) could be dragging us down.



Article content As you contemplate ways to spread joy during the holidays, you're hoping to figure out ways to move away from everything that is done through video chat. Instead, take a look at the ways digital natives use digital communication tools and enjoy the holiday season on different platforms, as I'll describe below.



Different platforms for different social groups



My research has shown that young people tend to separate their use of social media platforms based on their interactions on these platforms. Teenagers use Snapchat to keep in touch with their teachers and family while they use Facebook for school. They socialize in massive multiplayer games.



This kind of interaction using digital technology is a good idea for everyone. If you use Zoom for work, you may consider exploring other methods to stay connected with family and friends, for instance you could use an app like Rave, Airtime or Teleparty to stream films synchronously with your friends. Or you could visit family and friends virtually through games like Animal Crossing, World of Warcraft, or Minecraft.



Article content Get digitally imaginative



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



Share and curate your music playlist. Research has shown that sharing music is related to friendship. You could create a Christmas music playlist and share it with friends on streaming platforms like Spotify. This could bring you closer while you play online games, buy food or send holiday-themed memes to your WhatsApp group.



Send text messages A study from the University of Minnesota showed that text messages are perceived as being more warm and personal than email. You can keep in touch with your beloved ones during the holiday season by sending them regular text messages. You can also send emojis or gifs to your loved ones via text messages to enhance your emotional connection.



Article content Host a virtual new Year's celebration on YouTube: A Christmas ceilidh is an annual Scottish holiday tradition where family and friends gather to share songs, stories and dance. YouTube allows you to create a virtual party for the people you love. Every participant can upload a video which they sing, play an instrument, or tell a story. Then , you can organize the videos into an album that the group can enjoy while eating Christmas cookies. Gaming In the end, research has shown that YouTube is place where communities are built and is also a place where videos are shared.



Turn on, tune in the radio, and then scream



The holidays can be stressful. You might be attracted by every invitation. But, you have to make time to unplug from your electronic devices. For those who suffer from Zoom fatigue, some universities recommend that doctoral students include digital detox time in their schedules.



Article content Sometimes, you'll need videoconferencing to recreate the atmosphere of a holiday dinner or cocktail event, so ensure you don't get tired of Zoom by balancing your video chat with other ways to connect described above.



And while you step away from your computer, don't forget old-fashioned ways to keep in touch. You can send cards, phone or mail your loved ones. These moments are often the most meaningful because they are extremely uncommon in today's world of constant connectivity.



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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


Here's my website: https://healthhuman.net/