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What can a person do to make Zoom calls less exhausting for themselves? I would be happy to hear any tips.

by sesm 3y ago

cpeterso 3y ago
I keep my camera on, but turn off my own self view. I read this recommendation on HN here just a couple weeks ago and I now do it all the time. It's less distracting and I feel less self-conscious. It also frees up more of my screen real estate for other faces. Just make sure your camera setup is good at the start of each call before turning off self view!
OkayPhysicist 3y ago
Cameras should rarely be used. They don't help, they just drastically add to the fatigue. Sound quality needs be kept as high as possible, which means everyone involved needs decent equipment. Comfortable, over-the-ear headsets, with either good built-in microphone arms, or standalone mics. Don't use VoIP providers that can't figure out basic noise reduction or over-compress the audio, and you'll be in a much more tolerable spot.
nunez 3y ago
- Take a long break during the day - Take short breaks throughout the day, like getting coffee/water, etc. - Turn off self view! - If you code, try to cluster your meetings together to reduce context switching. Block focus time on your calendar to avoid drive-by meetings that break up these clusters. - Invest in good headphones and a good mic. Others might have bad sound quality but you definitely won't. Also, it will be easier to hear others even if they have bad sq
- deprecative 3y ago
  > - Take a long break during the day Your status goes yellow and you're fired. >- If you code, try to cluster your meetings together to reduce context switching. Block focus time on your calendar to avoid drive-by meetings that break up these clusters. If you code, you don't have enough authority to do this.
  - flappyeagle 3y ago
    Turn off your status indicator. Block your calendar off with fake meetings and leave one cluster available.
  - nunez 3y ago
    If you don't have enough authority to do either of these, I'd suggest finding an environment that provides it. Developers are hired to code, not pontificate about coding. Having no control over your "maker time" or control over breaks is burn-out waiting to happen
flappyeagle 3y ago
Buy everyone on your team an excellent microphone and boom arm — should be required. Anyone on a shitty mic is not allowed to talk. Turn your self video off.

What can a person do to make Zoom calls less exhausting for themselves? I would be happy to hear any tips.

by sesm 3y ago

What can a person do to make Zoom calls less exhausting for themselves? I would be happy to hear any tips.

I keep my camera on, but turn off my own self view. I read this recommendation on HN here just a couple weeks ago and I now do it all the time. It's less distracting and I feel less self-conscious. It also frees up more of my screen real estate for other faces. Just make sure your camera setup is good at the start of each call before turning off self view!

OkayPhysicist 3y ago

Cameras should rarely be used. They don't help, they just drastically add to the fatigue. Sound quality needs be kept as high as possible, which means everyone involved needs decent equipment. Comfortable, over-the-ear headsets, with either good built-in microphone arms, or standalone mics. Don't use VoIP providers that can't figure out basic noise reduction or over-compress the audio, and you'll be in a much more tolerable spot.

nunez 3y ago

- Take a long break during the day - Take short breaks throughout the day, like getting coffee/water, etc. - Turn off self view! - If you code, try to cluster your meetings together to reduce context switching. Block focus time on your calendar to avoid drive-by meetings that break up these clusters. - Invest in good headphones and a good mic. Others might have bad sound quality but you definitely won't. Also, it will be easier to hear others even if they have bad sq

deprecative 3y ago
> - Take a long break during the day Your status goes yellow and you're fired. >- If you code, try to cluster your meetings together to reduce context switching. Block focus time on your calendar to avoid drive-by meetings that break up these clusters. If you code, you don't have enough authority to do this.
- flappyeagle 3y ago
  Turn off your status indicator. Block your calendar off with fake meetings and leave one cluster available.
- nunez 3y ago
  If you don't have enough authority to do either of these, I'd suggest finding an environment that provides it. Developers are hired to code, not pontificate about coding. Having no control over your "maker time" or control over breaks is burn-out waiting to happen

flappyeagle 3y ago

Buy everyone on your team an excellent microphone and boom arm — should be required. Anyone on a shitty mic is not allowed to talk. Turn your self video off.