In The Circle Way Practitioners group on Facebook, a conversation began on how circle practitioners are reducing ‘zoom fatigue’ and how to help humanize online connections.

“This is a big reality in many of our lives these days. We are working on ways to help 'humanize' our online connections - anyone have any ideas? Things you've tried that are helping? Creative approaches you've seen?” ~ Tracy Knutson

We’ve harvested some of the insights to share below with permission , and added a few more:

• Do a presencing together to arrive, before beginning check-in. This might be simple breath work or grounding, breathing and listening, or movement.

• Bring in physicality; asking people to bring an object that they can use as a talking piece (and touching something other than our keyboard and mouse), reminds us of our three-dimension-ness - we’re not just virtual images on a screen.

• Bring in beauty through a bouquet of flowers, or lit candle, or other item that you can hold up and show others and invite the senses.

• Check-in and check-out to help bring people together, shift into circle space, and then also release thoughtfully.

• Bring in laughter! Maybe wear a playful hat, change up your virtual background, play some joyful music as people are arriving.

• Welcome the human connection that food creates by finding ways to share recipes, eating lunches or meals together in Zoom, and share stories about what what you are eating.

• Build in well-being and screen breaks every 60 or 90 minutes.

• In Zoom, you can hide your video while others can still see your video (hide self view).

What are some of the ways you’ve found to reduce zoom fatigue in online circles? Share below!