All Zoomed Out?
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Are you all zoomed out? Zoom fatigue during the holiday season: How do you manage it?
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Author: Jaigris HODSON, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University
Article content Well it's officially. Across North America and most of Western Europe, the Christmas holidays are going to look completely different this year. We've been instructed to utilize online tools to share holiday cheer with our loved ones since the second pandemic wave. We might all be hesitant to attend holiday gatherings in person to stop the spread of COVID-19 before the vaccine becomes available.
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Do we forget about holidays? Or do we look for new ways to make them memorable? My research on digital literacy shows ways we can be connected this holiday season, even when we live in different places.
Video for everything
Zoom fever swept the country for the first few months of the pandemic. People were zooming work at happy hour or board game nights, and other events too. Many felt as if they had hit an impervious wall. Zoom fatigue is real. Recent research suggests that people may be getting tired of trying to connect with video chat platforms like Zoom, Skype, Teams, and others.
Article content While you think about ways to spread joy during the holidays, you're hoping to figure out ways to move away from everything being done via video chat. Instead, you should learn from the ways digital natives use digital communication tools and celebrate the season with different platforms, as I'll explain below.
Different platforms for different social groups
My research shows that teens tend to divide their use of social media platforms by their relationships on those platforms. For instance, teens use Facebook to stay in touch with their families and teachers, yet they use Snapchat with their friends. They socialize in massive multiplayer games.
This kind of interaction with digital technology makes sense for all. If you use Zoom for work, you may want to experiment with other methods of connecting with your family and friends. for instance you could use apps such as Rave, Airtime or Teleparty to stream movies in synchronization with 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 ways to connect with loved ones and spread holiday cheer. There are many ways to bring holiday cheer, but these are some of my personal favorites.
Create and share a musical playlist research on online music sharing has revealed that sharing music is deeply connected to friendship. You can curate your own holiday music playlist using a streaming platform like Spotify and share it with friends this festive season. This could help you connect with your friends when you order food online, play games and share holiday-themed memes with your WhatsApp Group.
Text messages Text messages: A 2016 University of Minnesota study found that text messages are viewed as more warm and personal than email. You can keep in touch with your beloved ones during the holidays by sending them frequent text messages. You can also send emojis or GIFs to your loved ones via text messages to strengthen your emotional connection.
Article content hosting an online New Year's Eve party on YouTube. A Christmas-themed ceilidh in Scotland is a Christmas tradition that sees friends and family get together to discuss stories, dance and sing songs. YouTube allows you to create a virtual party for those you cherish. Each participant can upload a video of them singing an anthem or telling a story, singing a poem, or playing an instrument. You can then curate the videos into playlists that the group can enjoy while eating their Christmas cookies. YouTube is a place where communities are formed and videos are shared.
Tune in, turn on the radio, and then scream
The holidays can be stressful and you will feel tempted to accept every virtual invitation, but you also have to take some time away from your devices. For those suffering from Zoom fatigue, some universities recommend that doctoral students include digital detox time into their schedules.
Article content Sometimes, you will need to make use of Videoconferencing to recreate a festive meal or cocktail party. Minecraft servers To avoid this exhaustion, be sure to keep in mind other methods of connecting that we have discussed previously.
Don't forget the old-fashioned methods to stay in touch even if you aren't using your computer. You can make calls, send cards or mail your loved ones. These moments are often the most meaningful, as they are uncommon in today's world of constant connectivity.
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Jaigris Hodson's research 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