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The Importance of Fighting Digital Fatigue

Written By Brea Jones
September 21, 2020 at 11:38 PM

Bass player – Nicky Orta at a recording session for The Betsy’s Ninth Annual Overture

To Overtown Festival – brought virtual in September 2020 –  in partnership with FIU.

Now more than ever, content creators and art institutions are connecting in digital ways. 

Online work meetings and virtual events have become the repetitive schedule for many as we wade into the seventh month of the pandemic. We engage in work, school and entertainment through screens from the confines of our homes. How is this constant onslaught of screen time impacting us psychologically?

According to psychreg.org, digital fatigue can occur because we have to pay extra attention to the behavior of others during online meetings. During these digital interactions, we aren’t able to use our full set of social cues and non-verbal communication skills, so we focus more to “monitor social interactions effectively.”

So how do we combat this fate, still live our lives and engage with others? 

The Betsy Hotel, one of South Beach’s most notable art spaces, closed its doors on March 17, but they have still been hosting a variety of events that guests can participate in from their homes.

Deborah Plutzik Briggs, Vice President of Betsy’s PACE (Philanthropy, Arts, Culture and Education) program, is planning the ninth Annual Overture to Overtown Festival which will now be virtual to accommodate the times. 

“We have been able to continue to bring out consistent and dedicated programs and place it into people’s homes,” she says. “There is a community of jazz musicians who depend on us to really look at history and why it is relevant to us now.”

Briggs, who shares that the hotel has been able to use this as an opportunity to build its audience to a more widespread level, will account for things like audience engagements and digital fatigue during virtual events, by making the offerings as interactive as possible. 

“We rarely have someone just sitting there. There will be talking, photos, music, question and answers at the end,” said Briggs. “I think of it as a teaching and learning tool for the audience.”  

The increase in screen usage for many has also created a concern about digital fatigue for creative workers. 

Many writers who are creating their content from endless hours of editing on a screen and zoom interviews have experienced this fatigue. 

Jazz songstress -Leesa Richards,  Pianist – Jim Gasrior, and Bass player – Nicky Orta, in the Lobby @thebetsyhotel, at a recording session for Overture To Overtown, COVID-19 edition.

For three months, FIU senior Laura Antunez interned with The Miami Herald writing obituaries for victims of COVID-19.  

Antunez recalls experiencing waves of digital fatigue while researching victims and their families, saying the requirement of producing at least one story a week was both mentally and physically exhausting. 

“I would have to go through name after name just to maybe find information on 5 just to get only one person willing to tell you their story,” said Antunez. “It’s really hard to be such an active part in recording these stories of death and listening to people cry about their lost loved ones but it is rewarding being able to share stories.”

The digital fatigue that many may be experiencing could be attributed to us overworking and over-scheduling ourselves because we believe we have more time. 

“I know I spent at least 12 hours researching one person,” said Antunez. “I remember I spent most of daylight going through online white pages, looking through Facebook and more.”

Andy Pham, an associate psychology professor at FIU said that online art shows and concerts are beneficial because they are accessible to anyone and serve as a global exhibition by bringing history and culture in everyone’s home while also supporting the artists who still yearn for expression.

“The arts are needed now to remind us that we can escape our current reality at times, and become hopeful for a brighter future,” said Palm. “It inspires us to be imaginative while also reducing stress and anxiety stemming from the challenges we are facing this year.”

Pham suggests that people combat digital fatigue by incorporating short breaks when on virtual meetings. 

“When listening to conversations through virtual meetings, often there is no need to stare at the screen, so it is fine to look away from the screen every now and then,” he said. “People can also dedicate scheduled time away from the computer such as during longer breaks to stretch or exercise.” 

As we continue with virtual meetings and being fully online into the foreseeable future, it’s important to protect our mental health by implementing steps to prevent digital fatigue. 

If you want to attend- 

What: The Betsy Hotel’s Annual Overture to Overtown Festival

Where: virtual event

When: 4 Mondays in September at 7 pm 

Cost: Free

For more info: visit https://www.thebetsyhotel.com/overture-to-overtown 

 

This blog item is presented as part of the Artburst Miami Mentorship Program.

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of theater, dance, visual arts, music and performing arts news. Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a story.

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