7 Tips for Living With Migraine in the Zoom Era

We rely on our cellphones more than ever to stay connected with friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, collaborators, and other significant people in our life. Naturally, this has resulted in a significant rise in the use of services such as Zoom; in March 2020, the video conferencing app had a 20x increase in daily users, topping 200 million for the first time. This has increased awareness among persons who suffer from migraines and other sorts of sensory sensitivities, paving the way for more inclusive and accessible experiences for all users in the future. Continue reading to find more.

#1. On a General Level, Tips for All Zoom Users

When a Zoom meeting involves a large number of participants, it’s self-evident that it takes two (or three, or four, or five) to tango (or whatever). At all times, the repercussions of each participant’s activities in the virtual environment must be considered. These are our team’s recommendations for increasing physical comfort for all users.

#2. Avoid having strong light sources immediately behind you

This is a good tip for any user, as you want to always have the brightest light sources in front of you (but hopefully not too bright). Continuous visibility for others will be enhanced, and the likelihood of a light source triggering a migraine attack, as well as the pain caused by abrupt brightness variations, will be decreased. Additionally, additional recommendations for migraine-friendly lighting when working from home may be useful.

#3. Place your device on a level surface

Uneven or unstable surfaces might cause your video to undulate, which can be painful for virtually everyone, especially those who suffer from migraines or vestibular problems. Placing your smartphone on a flat surface may dramatically improve other people’s experiences.

#4. Maintain a minimum of surprising movements during meetings

Sudden movements or posture changes that occur unexpectedly may be hazardous to those who are motion-sensitive. If you are required to stand or move away, please refrain from bringing your device and consider momentarily pausing your video recording.

#5. Avoid animated Zoom backgrounds:

Zoom backdrops are all the rage right now, providing some creative and amusing graphics for video conferencing. Avoid images with excessively animated backgrounds or repeating patterns (even if the image itself is static): These can trigger migraines or even seizures. Additionally, avoid quick cycling through your background alternatives whenever feasible.

#6. Avoid speaking with your voice muted

This is not only courteous, but it may also assist audio feedback and other annoying sounds that may occur accidentally during a Zoom conference.

Conclusion

Reduce unnecessary video meetings and increase buffer time: Zoom fatigue is a word used in the context of video meetings to refer to the feelings of depletion, even concern or stress that may accompany such sessions. When paired with the physical exhaustion associated with increasing screen time and other stresses, this may have a depleting effect on both our bodies and souls.