TIL that proprioception is the unconscious sense that keeps track of where you are. At things like parties, your proprioception is constantly whirring keeping track of where everyone is to the extent that it can.

When you put that on a video conference, your Proprioception can't tell where everyone is, it gives you anxiety and fight/flight reaction. Proprioception says "you can't be that close, because those people are too small" and panics.

Many people find video conferencing very tiring because of this. Pause REGULARLY. People might flip away from your video every 10 minutes or so to relieve that subconscious anxiety.

To learn more about this and more about digital communication check out this great (free) presentation from Dr. Nick Morgan.

https://presentationguild.org/events/can-you-hear-me-the-science-behind-connecting-with-people-in-a-virtual-world/

h/t to @william_a_dba for sending me this.