RE: Nonverbal Overload: A Theoretical Argument for the Causes of Zoom Fatigue
And this is something experts had already been telling people to account for. Long before video conferencing was common, I learned that you need to take a few minutes now and then just to allow your eyes to focus far away. For me personally, I think focusing on something up close might be the largest contributing factor to fatigue in a work or class situation.
I think it's certainly true that things change if you don't have your camera on! According to the OP, presenting yourself to others plays a significant role in fatigue, and if your camera is off, you can relax a little bit!
Another thing I found helpful, both in the office and on video conference from home is finding different places to work; 1) that gets you moving, if only just to get from one place to the next in between sessions or meetings, 2) a change in posture now and then can be good for your body, and 3) it's been helpful in both situations to manage interruptions (which might add to my fatigue if I have to work to get back into a flow state again and again).
Unfortunately, the desire to find different places to work is at somewhat at odds with the desire to manage interruptions, so the two need to be balanced. I generally take all calls in my office so I can close the door and minimize distractions, but I have coworkers who like to recharge by taking some of their calls outside.
Ah. I was thinking about when I was at a co-working space, and we had designated quite areas in the main shared spaces, and designated places to have meetings / calls away from your desk. I can see how it could be problematic when different people are trying to use the same space for different purposes.
Ha! Yeah, I was thinking of WFH. There's always traffic in other rooms...