Sarah Jacobson Video chatting has become a part of our daily lives. Whether it’s for a remote job interview, catching up with friends and family, or even going on virtual dates, we’ve all found ourselves in front of the camera these days. But for those of us who still feel a bit shy or anxious about video calls, this article offers some helpful insights into overcoming that discomfort.
We’ll start by helping you understand why you might feel anxious about video chats, and then provide actionable tips to help you conquer that anxiety and feel more confident on your next video call.
Why Are You Having Anxiety During Video Chat?
For many people, the thought of video chatting can trigger feelings of anxiety and unease. This aversion often comes from a form of social anxiety or phobia. At its core, social anxiety is the fear of being judged negatively by others in social situations. While video chatting may seem harmless, it can actually amplify these anxious feelings.
Social anxiety exists on a spectrum – some experience it more severely than others. However, even those with relatively mild social anxiety can still feel discomfort or nervousness during video calls. This uneasiness is from self-consciousness about one’s appearance on camera or worries about potential technical difficulties interrupting the conversation.
Moreover, what triggers this social anxiety can differ from person to person. For some, it’s talking to new people they don’t know well. For others, it’s the formality of situations like job interviews or presentations.
To help ease into video chatting, experts sometimes suggest starting with lower-stakes scenarios among friends or casual social video chat platforms like on LuckyCrush.live. This allows you to get comfortable being on camera in a relaxed environment before taking on more anxiety-inducing situations.
What You Can Do To Overcome Anxiety in Video Chat
We’ve mentioned starting or practicing with casual social settings as a way to ease into video chatting.
That’s one helpful approach, but there are several other strategies you can employ. We’ll explain them below:
Prepare Your Environment Before Video Calls
One crucial step is properly setting up your environment before a video call. Take some time to find the camera angle you prefer and feel most comfortable with. Adjust the lighting to be flattering yet natural. Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident yet relaxed.
Most importantly, select a quiet, private location where you won’t be interrupted or distracted. Having an appropriate background visible on camera can also help put your mind at ease. When you control these elements ahead of time, you’ll feel more prepared and in charge once the call begins.
Shift Your Focus Outwards
During the call itself, make an effort to shift your focus outwards onto the other person/people rather than becoming preoccupied with how you’re coming across on camera. Actively listen, engage with what they’re saying, and view it as a conversation rather than a self-evaluation.
If it’s a performance situation like a presentation, concentrate on the task and content at hand. Practice your talking points or performance in advance, either in the mirror or by running through it with a friend. Having the material in your memory will help you feel more confident conveying it.
Protect Your Privacy
Some video chat anxiety can stem from worries that others may be listening in or observing you without your knowledge. To give yourself more privacy, use headphones or earphones during calls. This prevents audio from playing aloud and lets you remain discreet.
If doing a call from a shared space like an office, consider using noise-canceling headphones to minimize potential distractions. You can also enable blur or background replacement features to obscure your surroundings if desired.
Ease In with Icebreakers
If you tend to feel anxious at the start of video conversations, having a few icebreakers ready can help you ease into them more naturally.
Icebreakers are lighthearted ways to create an initial connection before the main topic or agenda. Something as simple as commenting on the weather, mentioning current events, or asking about the other person’s day can get the discussion flowing.
You can also try more creative icebreakers like sharing fun facts about yourself, playing a short game like”two truths and a lie”, or discussing an interesting article or video you recently came across.
Once you’ve established some rapport through an icebreaker, you’ll likely find the anxiety starts to dissipate as the conversation progresses. Don’t be afraid to laugh off any awkward moments too lightly. Touches of humor can go a long way in dissolving tension.
Conclusion
Overcoming video chat anxiety is a process that takes practice and patience with yourself. Don’t be discouraged if you still feel some nervousness at first — that’s completely normal. The most important step is committing to putting yourself into those situations rather than avoiding them. With each video call, you’ll gain more experience and confidence.
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