Psychology Discovers Ideal Zoom Background for Brain Comfort

A recent study by Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University found that switching to natural for the best Zoom background which can reduce mental fatigue for remote workers, offering relief during ongoing virtual meetings.

While big names like Amazon are making headlines for pushing employees back to the office, research shows remote work is here to stay-at least in part-time capacity.

In turn, Zoom fatigue has become an enduring challenge for remote workers. Luckily, it would appear that a group of researchers from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University may have found a surprisingly easy way to reduce this mental exhaustion-just by changing your Zoom background.

How to beat Zoom Fatigue

One of the unexpected stresses of working at home during the pandemic was something now called Zoom fatigue.

It turned out that seeing oneself and colleagues relentlessly on screen was exhausting. Academics leapt to investigate, and hence came to discover that staring at yourself for long stretches of time is something few people do, and it saps your mental resources.

The more concerned you are about your looks or how others perceive you, the more mentally exhausted you will become. Such an effect is found to be prevalent in junior employees and women, maybe because they feel less secure in workplace settings. Some experts have suggested solutions such as keeping the video turned off or going for one-on-one calls, which again is not always practical for the workday.

Now, researchers in Singapore have a more accessible solution-your best Zoom background.

Their study, recently published in Frontiers in Psychology, surveyed 610 Zoom users and analyzed how different backgrounds influenced the mental state of the users. What’s behind you on your video call can make a big difference in how you feel and how people perceive you.

Why Natural Zoom Backgrounds Are Better

So, what is the best Zoom background?

 According to the study, animated or moving backgrounds are the worst-they can increase Zoom fatigue for everyone on the call. More curiously, the commonly used blurred background wasn’t ideal, either, with researchers suggesting monotony can lead to negative emotions.

On the contrary, natural backgrounds like forests, mountains, or beaches were ideal. These relaxing visuals not only reduce Zoom fatigue but also make you look more professional.

“The virtual background is not just a decoration-it affects how people perceive themselves and how others perceive them,” said Hang Zheng, one of the researchers behind the study.

This also agrees with other psychological findings: the outdoors naturally has a calming effect on mankind, a concept taken into practice by many companies through “biophilic” design-take nature into the workspace to increase productivity and reduce stress. So, if you are trying to lighten your video calls a bit more for the brain, perhaps a simple switch to a nature-inspired the best Zoom background that you will need.

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