Since the start of the pandemic, much of the communication that takes place in work and other situations has shifted from face-to-face to videoconferencing platforms such as MS Teams and Zoom.
In addition to work, these technologies have been used for a variety of purposes, ranging from online education, webinars of various kinds, exercise and leisure, to therapy and counselling, as well as informal socialising between friends and families.
They have provided a means of continuing certain services and activities that might otherwise have come to a halt altogether, but as with everything there are potentially negative side effects to the technologies that people have used.
I thought I would therefore do a bit of research into the side effects of videoconferencing to see if this suggested alternative ways of enhancing our own and other people’s wellbeing using methods that overcome the potential problems with technology.
The following is what I discovered.
In a BBC article they have suggested that videoconferencing can be very tiring due to having to work harder to maintain the flow of communication:-
“Our minds are together when our bodies feel we’re not. That dissonance, which causes people to have conflicting feelings, is exhausting. You cannot relax into the conversation naturally”
(https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting)
In a Ted article they argue:-
“People feel like they have to make more emotional effort to appear interested, and in the absence of many non-verbal cues, the intense focus on words and sustained eye contact is exhausting.
Meetings in person are not only about the exchange of knowledge; they are also important rituals in the office. Rituals provide comfort, put us at ease, and are essential in building and maintaining rapport.”
(https://ideas.ted.com/zoom-fatigue-is-real-heres-why-video-calls-are-so-draining/)
In Glamour magazine, they argue:-
“What started as a novel way to interact with our mates and co-workers … seems to have lost its sheen in the six months we’ve been using it, and when used excessively, video conferencing can trigger damaging repercussions for our mental health and our body image.
Staring down the barrel of our phone or laptop camera, we’ve been privy to seeing our faces from every angle. We’ve seen ourselves gurn … and we’ve developed a new (obsessive) preoccupation with our under-eye bags and features.”
(https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/zoom-self-esteem-mental-health-and-body-image)
In Psychology Today, they state:-
“Not only does Zoom zap our energy and our brains, but it also beats down our bodies … hours spent in one position at furniture never designed for long-term sitting can leave us feeling cranky, achy, and a lot worse about life than if we had a breakroom to roam over to visit, face-to-face chats and gossips with coworkers, and an evening commute during which we could decompress and shed our work identities as we morphed into our social and relational identities.”
(https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/lifetime-connections/202004/zoom-fatigue-dont-let-video-meetings-zap-your-energy)
Finally, the Kim Foundation state:-
“Along with trying to read body language, we are also met with the fact that we are also looking at ourselves while we are speaking which is also not a normal part of communication. We also begin to feel tired because our minds are not meant to stare at screens 24/7. It is exhausting when our socialization is even done online. This can affect us both physically and mentally. You might be thinking, I’ve done Zoom calls in the past though and never felt this type of exhaustion. Petriglieri explains that the main reason we are feeling this type of fatigue now and not in the past is because we are dealing with so much loss this year. We are using online platforms to communicate with people who we normally can see in-person or we have switched in-person conferences to virtual platforms and there is a loss that comes with that. We can’t help but think of what could have been and the communication experiences we are missing out on this year due to having everything online.”
(https://www.thekimfoundation.org/blog/zoom-fatigue-the-effects-on-your-mental-health/)
Technology has therefore been a good way of staying in contact during the pandemic, but associated fatigue and the effect on mental health is clearly becoming a problem in some cases.
With many restrictions on having in-person social contact likely to continue until the Spring at least, I decided to look at other non screen-based ways of trying to improve wellbeing that may help people to get through the Winter.
Below are some books that can be used to stimulate creativity of various kinds. Creativity can certainly have mental health benefits for many.
Creative Writing
I recently came across an old Open University Creative Writing Workbook at home, and found myself drawn to working through the exercises using paper and pen. This made me feel better and provided an alternative to the tiredness associated with screen-based activities.
This is the book, and although it is quite pricey, I would recommend it for anyone who feels they might like to seriously try writing creatively in an independent fashion
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Writing-Linda-Anderson/dp/0415372437/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=open+university+creative+writing&qid=1605619403&sr=8-1
A cheaper alternative I have also used successfully is the 5 minute writer:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Minute-Writer-Exercise-inspiration-creative/dp/1845283392
The above got me thinking about other creative activities that people might like to try at home using a self-study book. I’ve listed some possible texts that people could investigate, although there are quite a wide range of alternatives available. A common theme I believe is getting people to focus on the real world and objects within it in a creative fashion, and this can perhaps provide an antidote to spending so much time online.
Drawing
How to Draw Cool Stuff: The 5 Minute Workbook
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Draw-Cool-Stuff-Workbook/dp/1732888841/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=learn+to+draw&qid=1605619469&sr=8-3
Craft
Fun and Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials: 60 Cool Projects That Reimagine Paper Rolls, Egg Cartons, Jars and More!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fun-Easy-Crafting-Recycled-Materials/dp/1624149081/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=recycling+craft&qid=1605619572&sr=8-1
Ceramics
Hand Building (Ceramic Studio)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/145470201X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Collage
Cut Paper Pictures: Turn Your Art and Photos into Personalized Collages
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cut-Paper-Pictures-Personalized-Collages/dp/076035877X/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=teach+yourself+collage&qid=1605619769&s=books&sr=1-3
Hoping some of you find some of the above of interest.