Why Does Video Chatting Cause Fatigue?

With people across the United States stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, video calls have become the new norm for work and social interactions.
Although a convenient way of remaining connected, many are finding these online sessions to be especially exhausting.
According to Gianpiero Petriglieri, an associate professor at Insead, video calls require more focus than face-to-face interactions as people must work harder to process non-verbal cues.
"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."Gianpiero Petriglieri, via BBC.
Petriglieri also believes that while silence during face-to-face conversations is considered a natural pause, that same silence is viewed more negatively during a video call.
However, the biggest contributor to this online stress is the fact that video calls are a massive reminder of what has been lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is the distress that everytime you see someone online, such as your colleagues, that reminds you we should really be in the workplace together." Gianpiero Petriglieri, via BBC.
In order to reduce “Zoom fatigue,” Petriglieri suggests only using video chats when necessary and putting your laptop to the side in order to simulate a normal meeting setting.
"When chatting with friends, give yourself time to transition between your work and social personas. Having that buffer will help you feel refreshed and relaxed. You should also consider opting for smaller, more intimate group chats. Large group calls can be depersonalizing and make you feel as if your individual power is diminished."