Are you ZOOMED out?

Remember the lyrics to that early-90s classic, Rump Shaker?

Come ONnnnnn - you know it! It’s a classic…

“All I want to do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom…”

I’ve been thinking about that song a lot this week because, I’ve gotta admit:

I'm zoomed OUT. I’M EXHAUSTED.

My hips are tired from sitting so much.
My brain is tired from looking at my face all day.
My neck is tired from leaning forward constantly - (which I just realized I’m doing).

Are you exhausted by ALL the connecting?

Kind of ironic, right?

All month I’ve been writing about the importance of connecting - reaching out, sending emails, giving reviews…

But at some point, we all have to ask, “What’s serving ME?”

This week I spoke on a panel about maintaining agility in life & business…

and realized most of the women in the ZOOM ROOM were experiencing what I’m calling personal communication fatigue -

If you’re suffering from it, I’d like to give you permission to:

1. Filter your feed:

Jeez, Louise. It’s time to tamp down the noise!

Got that friend who’s CRUSHING QUARANTINE?
Who’s Pinteresting the Apocalypse?

We all do it - compare & despair - judge someone - or get pissed at that toxic frenemy on our feed…

It’s time. Unfriend, hide, or snooze ‘em. It’s not good for your mental health to judge your friends or yourself!

PERMISSION GRANTED!

2. Say ‘No, thanks’:

Too many requests for connections? You’re just SITTING HOME, right? With nothing to do!

So of course you can have a virtual coffee, a planning meeting, a game night, & a social-distancing dinner with friends. ALL IN the SAME DAY!

Anyone else busy right now? Who doesn’t have extra hours?

 🙋

You might be exhausted from all the requests! It’s OK to say No. Here’s how:

• That’s sounds like a great idea, but I put that night aside to work on my writing.
• Ohhh, good for you! Enjoy it - I’m tapped out energy-wise.
• I wish I could, but my eyes are exhausted from all the screen time. Try me again next time.
• Thank you for thinking of me. I’m honored, but not available at that time.

Of course, there’s, “No, but thanks for asking.”

And then simply “No” -

which is apparently a complete sentence that I’ve yet to hear anyone but my 13-year-old use well and without apology. 🤷‍

PERMISSION GRANTED!

3. Cover Your Face:

Even for the most confident among us, it’s downright EXHAUSting to look at one’s face all day.

When I’m online with a client (which I do normally, so this isn’t new to me), I cover my face.

Here’s how:

• I put the Zoom call on “gallery mode”, then move my browser over so my face is hidden somewhere off screen.

OR

• I hit “hide self-view” - it doesn’t affect whether other people can see me, but I can’t see myself.

OR

• I literally take a small sticky note & put it over my face.

It might sound bizarre, but looking at yourself can be mentally exhausting because you’re silently judging yourself - even if you’re highly confident & feel strong on video.

PERMISSION GRANTED!

Friends - this exhaustion is real>

Whether it’s Facebook live, a Facetime call, Zoom meetings, or other electronic way for us to be together, there’s a veil between us.

We’re highly aware that even though we’re “together”, we are not.

PLUS, there’s a LOT to look at - weird ZOOM backgrounds, other people’s homes, pets, & children, strange camera angles, people eating food, etc.

Bottom Line: It’s OK to be choosy about who you’re spending time with online during this time,

especially if you’re feeling taxed because you’re still running a business, working all day, and also trying to remember to deal with the other humans in your house who need you.

Please take a look at your schedule this week.

Ask yourself, “What can I bow out of?”

“What could be an email?”

“What could be a phone call I take while walking the dog?”

And PERMISSION GRANTED to change it. I promise - the person on the other side will probably be VERY HAPPY you initiated the change!

In case you need any more convincing, here are two resources that you might gobble up (alone, quietly, while snacking and sitting in your favorite chair.)

Zoom Exhaustion is REAL: 6 ways to find balance & stay connected

I’ll Be Right Back: how to protect your energy during ZOOM meetings