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natlacentral · 23 days

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Sokka Actor Defends Changes To Live-Action 'Avatar' Series: "You Have To Take Risks"

Sokka actor Ian Ousley opens up on creative changes to Netflix’s ‘Avatar’ series, what he fought to keep in the show, the hilarious cast group chat, and much more.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is in the pantheon of 2000s Nickelodeon shows.

Since its debut in 2005, the animated series inspired several spinoff projects and a passionate, global fanbase—one that’s been particularly protective of the franchise following M. Night Shyamalan’s disgraceful 2010 adaptation.

When it was announced that the series would be getting the live-action treatment at Netflix, fans were skeptical. Would this be another bomb, like the canceled Cowboy Bepop series? Or could it actually be something worthwhile for the franchise, like the recent adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece?

Ian Ousley, the 21-year-old actor born in College Station, Texas, who plays Sokka in the Netflix version, knew it would be a daunting task adapting one of the most beloved animated stories of the 21st Century. But he says the cast had one common goal stepping into the project.

“We’ve got to do this thing justice,” Ousley says. “What we want is to give people a true and faithful adaptation of a show that people grew up on and still love today.”

It seems like the live-action series has resonated with fans. In its first four days in the US, it secured the No. 1 spot on Nielsen’s streaming chart and garnered nearly twice as many views as the debut of One Piece. In a sign of faith, Netflix decided to greenlight Seasons 2 and 3, ensuring the series will at least get the opportunity to tell Aang’s whole story and possibly do right by the franchise’s legacy.

Ousley sat down with Complex to reflect on the necessary changes for live-action, what he demanded to keep in the series, bonding with the cast, and much more.

You were 19 when you signed on to the project. We're here now, two years later. How are you feeling?

IAN OUSLEY: Feeling older [Chuckles]. I feel great. We shot this project for 13 months in Vancouver. It's been almost a year and a half since VFX and all of that stuff. So it's kind of a weird situation to go from like, “Oh, you're gonna do 12 hours of work every day for 13 months.” Then it's like, “All right, here's your life for like a year and a half.”

Then it gets released and it's like, “Oh, by the way, you did this thing and it's awesome, and you're it's going to come out and it's going to be crazy.” So it's been a funny, kind of roller coaster situation.

It was also a massive world tour, from Tudum in Brazil to all across the globe. What’s it been like interacting with fans ever since you joined?

I mean, great. It is a very passionate fan base. I was part of that fan base at one point, so I really understand. Since it's been released, the fan reaction has been overwhelmingly positive from what I've seen, so I'm just really grateful that the fans like it honestly. Because I was in that same spot where I was like, “Oh my gosh, I really want this to be good.”

Everyone on the cast and the creative side of things were really fans of the project, which is rare to find, a project that everyone is so passionate about. We were like, “Okay, this has to be good because there might have been a movie at some point that maybe wasn't so good.”

We were like, “Our whole goal is: we’ve got to do this thing justice.”

What was the casting process like? I heard it was done under cover, Ken Leung thoughthe was auditioning for a different franchise. How did all that go down?

It was under a code name, so I did a self tape under the code name “Tradewinds” and thought it was just some Netflix original because it said Netflix but didn't say anything else. I had no idea it was Avatar at all.

I did a bunch of Zoom callbacks, chemistry reads over Zoom, which is always funny because if you've ever been on a Zoom meeting in your life, there's that subtle delay, which is kind of awkward. So acting with that was pretty interesting.

But we were in the midst of COVID, and I got the call that I actually got the role. The first reaction was, “Oh, my God. I'm playing Sokka.” And then I was like, “Oh my God, I'm playing Sokka. What the heck?” Like, so much pressure.

Once you landed the role, how much Avatar content did you consume to prepare for the project?

To prepare, I just watched season one because I didn't want to have in my mind too much the arc of what Sokka goes through in seasons two and three. So I was religiously watching season one, like three or four times. Throughout the process of filming the show, just reminding myself of like, “Okay, we're here. Sokka is going through this.”

The animated show is basically the heart and soul of our show, but our show is different. It's live-action. Anything's going to be different when you take it from animation and put it into real people. So just trying to add those human elements into it, finding where they really didn’t get to dive into because it’s an animated series, trying to find where we could mix those human elements in.

What were you most excited to tackle with the project? Anything you were really looking forward to?

I was most excited for the stunts. Dallas [Liu, who plays Zuko] is a good friend of mine, and those were my favorite days, shadowing and getting to watch him do his martial arts in costume, which is very difficult. We're basically all in leather, so doing what he's doing is insane.

The costumes, that's what really transported us into the world. The first time I got my haircut and I'd put the costume on in the fitting and stuff, I was like, “Okay, this is really cool.” Once I had the wolf tail, it was over. I was like, “Oh my gosh. This is real.” And that's kind of where I saw it through, Not just my imagination anymore, it was like, “Oh, this is real.”

What were the action and fight scenes like for you?

Great! My job is to lose most of them [Chuckles], but it was actually a really fun experience. We did a six-week-long bootcamp where we all learned how to bend all four elements, even though I'm a non-bender. The rest of that bootcamp was focused on me re-learning my martial arts background, which isn’t very hard.

I'm a third degree black belt in taekwondo and a world champion in weapons. So that was what was fun for me because Sokka's got a lot of weapons. He's got spears, he's got his boomerang, obviously. Later on he'll master the space sword, which I'm very excited for, hopefully. I mean, that's in the animated series. We don't have any scripts yet for season two and three, but yeah, it was really fun to do those scenes.

The behind-the-scenes pictures made it look like y’all were legit family, like homies. What was the bonding experience like on and off set?

I mean, hopefully me and Dallas didn't seem like actual homies in the show, but we were roommates. We actually knew each other in L.A. beforehand, when we were like 15. It's a very long story, but we really were not fans of each other at all. So when I found out he got cast, I was like, “Oh my God, this is gonna suck. My life is going to suck for a year.”

We were supposed to be friends and then we just bonded throughout the bootcamp and the first month of shooting. We lived a block away from each other and we would always get dropped off at one person's house, go eat, come back to that person's house, and then seven hours before we had to be on set for the next bootcamp day, which is very intense because it's like eight hours of training, we'd be like, “Oh, crap, I've got to go home.” Go sleep in separate places, and then do it all again the next day.

So after Christmas break, we were just like, “Dude, we've got to move in together.” So we ended up doing that, which was really cool.

Do you guys have a group chat?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Does it have a special nickname like “OppenHomies” or something?

You know, that sounds more like what the Oppenheimer group chat is, is that what it is? “OppenHomies”? Oh, my God. That's so lit.

We have one, it's “Shadow Wizard Money Gang.” I think there's a music producer who has that as his producing tag that was big for a while.

One day I opened my text and it said “Shadow Wizard Money Gang” with like a ton of emojis. And I was like, “What the hell?” And it was them. I was like, “Oh, cool.”

What are your cardinal rules for adapting an animated project into live action?

I think that, for one, I'll say that we love the animated show. All of us are fans of that, which is what we are trying to embody instead of emulate, is what I would say. A shot for shot remake of an animation to me personally is unnecessary. What we want is to give people a true and faithful adaptation of a show that people grew up on and still love today.

That's what I would say to some of the critics: “I hear you and we love the animated show and it exists and is perfect for a reason.” I think that it's necessary to bring some differences to the show so that we can have some new content. You have to take risks, and I think we took some risks. Sometimes that really, really pans out and sometimes it doesn’t. I think that most of our risks really did.

What I’d also say to this subject in general, I know it's a little bit off topic, but I feel like the first season of the animated show is so good, but it's hopping around a lot. We're going on little side missions here and there because we're trying to get to the Northern Water Tribe, and it really finds its voice in seasons two and three.

It's like, “We know what the show is, we know what we're going after, we know what the plot points are. We have Toph now. We have the Aang Gang. We have a mission. We’ve got to save the world.” I think that our show also has that opportunity in live-action.

We've gotten so much constructive criticism, which is why we all want to make the show as good as possible. Still, not just for season one, but season two and three. I think we really have that opportunity now as well to find our voice in season two and three.

Was there anything that you felt particularly strong about that you felt Sokka needed to keep in the live-action?

One thing that I asked to keep that was almost not there was I'm wearing the Kyoshi armor in episode two. Originally I wasn't wearing the Kyoshi armor. In the animated show, it's kind of seen as a punch line. It's a punishment, like, “Here, throw this on if you want to train with us.”

For me, I went to the people that wanted to make that change and was like, “You know, I'm a martial artist. If I'm going to a jiu jitsu gym, I'm going to wear their uniform. It can be seen as a sign of honor and respect.” I think that's totally what it is.

So I was really happy that I got to keep that. It really was not anything intense, but it was just advocating for your characters. Always. Everyone always loves that because no one had ego on our set, which is something that's so important when trying to create something that's good is like, “Oh, I'm totally down to be wrong.”

What are your hopes for deepening your portrayal of Sokka? Anything you are excited to explore in Seasons 2 and 3?

I think that he evolves through his sense of responsibility. He evolves through his relationship with his sister a lot. The reason this question is hard to answer is because I don't have scripts yet, which helps me guide where that growth will come from. I'm kind of a psycho about trying to make the performance not one noted, even in one episode or one part of a season.

I had a whole serial killer wall, theories of all like, okay, “This season he's going through this. And then the reason it changes here is because…” and then once you do all of that work, you can throw it all away once you get on set and you kind of have a sense of purpose of why.

So I think I'm going to find out more of those specifics, I will find out more about that when I get those scripts. Hopefully soon.

#natla #atla #avatar the last airbender #ian ousley #interview #complex #netflix avatar #netflix atla #avatar netflix #atla netflix

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dejwrites · 2 years

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hey deja! i was wondering if you could like talk a bit about like your college experience if you wouldn’t mind, I’m a little nervous of starting community college soon

i would point out before giving you some advice that i went straight to a four year university and not a community college, but to me, an education is an education no matter what type of university/college you went to. anyway, my four years of college were actually eventful and i would say that i've learned so much about myself during the time. i've met cool people, had some cool ass professors, have shitty professors, join orgs, and so much more. all of that shaped me to be who i am today because the way i display myself on here wouldn't have been the same if this was high school me. moral of this little story is that in college, i feel like you'll learn so much about yourself and adulthood period.

when i first started college, i was so nervous because i was such a shy person. like y'all not understanding...i was shy. literally only spoke when someone else smoke to me. sat in the back of the class...all of it. i was shy. plus not living on campus didn't help either (i lived maybe 10 minutes away from the school and thought it would be pointless to kick out more money to just live in dorms and have to share a bathroom with strangers) however, i did have this one professor whose class helped me break out of my shell and up to this day, i still email this professor to check up on her and how she's doing. like this woman really helped me want to open up and meet people and make connections.

my sophomore and junior year was the year where i slowly became more open and got to know myself more. i made more friends, joined orgs, went to more campus activities, etc. i wouldn't say i was a social butterfly, but i was out their socializing.

when covid hit right in the middle of my junior year, i would say that this was the most challenging for me. the spring semester and my senior year was a lot for me. during my senior year, i've lost one of my closest guy friends to covid which led to me having a conflict with one of my professors who whine up giving me a d in her class. it didn't effect my gpa, but it did sit heavy in my heart due to that being the first ever d letter grade i received like ever. then the fact that everything was online and zoom calls. it was just beyond stressful to the point where i even got depressed at one point. however, i remembered that i was almost at the finish line. i had to finish this journey.

which i did and i'm so proud of myself because of that. it was a long journey, but i wouldn't trade it for anything cause like i said it was an experience that made me who i am today.

some little tips

— remember that it isn't about how long you finish college/university, it's about you walking across that stage at the end. cause frankly...college/university will have you being in a group project with a person that's old enough to be your mom. don't dwell on how long it takes you, just think about walking across that stage with your cap and gown on

— don't sign up for an 8am class if you're not a morning person. don't sign up for a 3 hour class if you're not okay with sitting a long periods of time. i have taken 8am's and 3 hour classes, both have its pros and cons. 8am's usually get canceled the most compared to 9am courses and three hour classes you only meet once a week, giving you extra time to do homework and readings for that course.

— do not buy the textbooks immediately. search high and low for pdf versions of the book. it's been countless times when i was an overachiever and brought a textbook for a book we only used three times.

— don't be afraid to make friends in each one of your courses. however, stay cautious of group me's and discord gc's (although, i would say join one just to be up to date with assignments, readings, class cancelations, etc..but be cautious also). i have heard countless cheating scandals where someone accidentally added the t.a to the group chat and the class got in trouble due to test answers being passed around

— use your school resources. if they have a tutoring lab, if you need help with something...go to it. they got editing suites where people can edit your papers...go to it! use your school resources, you ain't paying them for nothing !!

— join orgs. they're good on a resume and they're even wonderful connections for the future. plus, you'll meet some cool ass people also.

— planners are actually helpful...maybe the studyblr side of tumblr was right lmfaoo.

#꒰ ა ♡ ໒ ꒱ — deja answers.

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jjjosuke · 2 years

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i wanna hear the story!

thank you for asking <3

this will be long because I’m just having fun documenting my feelings, I’ll bold different sections.

so a little backstory…

I met him in art club at community college in like 2018/2019. I really needed friends as mine had all moved on from the institution and always saw that group hanging out and joined the club even though it was focused on visual arts and I’m not a visual artist.

They were all really nice but this one tall curly haired guy with cool wire wrapping tools and a pretty sketch book caught my eye. I started hanging out with the art club group that hung out after meetings “ended” (when our faculty advisor left and we moved to the cafeteria). Eventually I just started talking to him more and eventually asked if he’d like to hang out sometime and I think got his number.

We go to one of my favorite little cafes. At this point in my life I’m not drinking coffee yet but I would always get a hibiscus berry tea lemonade or a hot chocolate (weather depending). After going once and hanging out for a bit before art club we started going together every week.

We’d walk over to the little cafe together before or after art club every week and just hang out for a bit and chat. I had the biggest crush on him from getting to know him so well. He showed me his art and talked about his programming courses and I shared my poetry with him and complained about stats.

We did this just about every week there was school until that fated extended spring break in 2020. There were a few art club zoom calls we both joined but it wasn’t the same.

and it went on…

We texted every so often, months growing in between where the last time I had reached out was February to ask about a coffee shop near his hometown he had recommended forever ago. We never really texted a lot and we hadn’t seen each other since school. I had graduated and transferred and he paused enrollment.

Then the other night I found out one of my best friends from high school was dating someone I knew from community college and I had the urge to text my old art club friend and I followed it and we texted for a few hours before deciding to get coffee the next day at our old spot.

I drove the 45 minutes from my apartment to struggle to find parking by the cafe. It was hot out. I was nervous. I hadn’t seen him in over two years.

But seeing him was so great. Immediately it felt natural to catch up. Now I drink coffee so I got a latte (a mistake, I had not eaten any food yet) and we sat at a table and talked for a few hours.

The first thing he complimented aside from a general “you look great” were my Rohan earrings so we got to talking about jojo’s and anime which was fun because last we saw each other I wasn’t that into anime aside from ghibli and aot.

We talked music. We showed each other what we’d recently had on repeat. We talked little details and just catching up. It was nice. When the cafe was getting ready to close in the afternoon we decided to walk around. We’d never really done that before.

How much of a crush I had had on him really hit me. I still liked him. He was so easy to talk to even when I felt awkward and anxious.

We walked and looked at the street art and talked about the city. We looked for a place to sit but couldn’t find one and my parking was going to run out soon.

Where I fumbled it…

When I went to say goodbye and leave I couldn’t tell if he was going for a hug or an arm touch or what so I turned a little two abruptly out of the caffeine anxiety. I feel like I should’ve waited with him for his Uber but I was very anxious and he had a declined a ride home from me.

Later….

We texted that afternoon and evening and both seemed to be on the same page that we had a really great time and wanted to hang out again sometime and plan something for after our coffee next time. He asked how soon I’d like to and when I told him since I like hanging out with him whenever is fine with me he proposed two different dates at the end of the week but they just so happened to be the days I go back to work. Currently waiting on my full work schedule to make plans before he leaves for a camping trip.

now…

I had texted him about a music thing the next day and we talked a bit more about music and he sent me a playlist :) I made one for him too. I had had this guy in my phone for years and he didn’t have a contact photo so I asked if he could send me one and while he was on break at work he got three or his friends to send him their favorite pic of him and he sent them to me to choose from and aaa I finally have picture to show my roommate so they don’t think I’m insane (he has no social media and they wanted to see what he looks like).

I really hope we get to hang again soon :)

#charlie gush #charlie crush #charlie rambles #crush

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cavewretch · 2 months

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captains log entry #0688x

i did something crazy the other day and emailed my undergrad advisor like hey can we chat about what me very slowly finishing out my degree could look like and now i have a zoom call tomorrow. it's been 4 years since i last talked to this woman and i actively couldn't bring myself to do it for a really long time bc i truly cannot be the same person i was when i was in college and that's been incredibly tough to pick thru and grieve. "same person" not in a personality way but in a body-ability way. (though i do feel like an entirely different person personality wise too). the way i was functioning in 2018 as an artist and a worker and a student is unthinkable to me now. plus there's a global pandemic to contend with this time around that's been handled in such a way that i'm now forced out of public life.

i know i can't work and create the way i was studying to for 3 and a half years. one of my courses i was missing was called business of theater, where they teach about unions and portfolios and budgeting and freelance on-your-feet work. taking that now would feel like a joke. i cant work several jobs at the same time, running around to meetings in the city, moving furniture, building miniatures, painting sets, scurrying around dark old theaters and basements for hours and hours and hours.

for awhile this knowledge was a crisis. if i cannot be the artist i was then what am i. if i can't create the way i know how to and enjoy then what is the point. there will always be grief for who i was before i crafted up wretch. but after nearly 5 years and a shit ton of work and learning and compassion towards myself that doesn't feel like the end of the world anymore.

im hoping they'll let me take classes in other disciplines just to check off the boxes to get the BFA piece of paper so it doesn't feel like i'm playing pretend. but! i don't even know that they offer things remotely so this could all be an impossibility anyway. we'll find out! even if i do have to play pretend, it's not prescriptive of who i am or what i create. i'm just so close to getting the stupid piece of paper, i might as well try.

goodnight! ps i finished vision therapy today! i worked very hard and improved so much! my eyes aren't perfect or what they used to be but they've improved a ton and i'm really proud of myself ❤️

#sickie notes

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silver-la-pixels · 2 months

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I have a fully online /at home chem class and I dont think my dad has fully wrapped his head around the fact that I'm a college student, and that my classes are much more intense and require alot more than the one hour zoom meeting from high school quarantine.

Anyways I finally set my lab up today for the class and he came home early. From work. Like 3 hours early. My online school day always has to end when he comes home bc for whatever reason he equates computers, closed doors, and annoyed/stressed teen with evil asshole ipad baby who wants to dismantle modern family values. I cant do the class now.

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chari-sunflowers · 3 months

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Weekly Updated, Class Week 3

I met with Hawaii Tokai International College Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Yabe Domingo on Monday (January 22, 2024). In the Zoom meeting, we plan for me to visit the school in the first two weeks of February (5th and 12th) around 12 to 1 pm during their lunchtime. I can only go during the two days because Mondays are the only day I’m during the week due to my classes and work time. I can come to the campus and meet the students who want to be interviewed. While talking to Vice Chancellor Yabe Domingo, she told me she would help me find students during the hour. I plan to get their contact information to interview them outside of school hours. I’m planning to interview at least three to four students. My goal is to finish the interviews at the beginning of March.

Pacific Gateway Center and Elena's Filipino Foods have yet to contact me. However, I found another restaurant to contact: Eastern Paradise Restaurant, located in Honolulu. I reached out to them on January 19, 2024. I still haven't gotten any responses, so at the moment, I'm stuck on this part of my program. I will still find a way to reach out to other organizations.

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the-little-thingsss · 5 months

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A Day in the Life of a College Girl: From Pajamas to Power Naps

**8:30 AM - Morning Bliss and Bedhead**

Rolling out of bed fashionably late, I greet the day with a messy bun and oversized pajamas that would make even the trendiest fashionistas envious. Bedhead is not a flaw, but a statement – a declaration that I embrace the chaos of morning.

**9:00 AM - Breakfast of Champions (or Cereal Enthusiasts)**

Breakfast is a casual affair, with a menu featuring the finest cereal choices from the depths of the pantry. I pair it with a side of existential pondering – is adulthood just an elaborate ploy to eat sugary cereals without judgment? The mysteries of life unfold over a bowl of crunchy goodness.

**10:30 AM - Online Classes: Where Pajamas Reign Supreme**

The transition to virtual classes is seamless, thanks to the glory of Zoom and the fact that my classmates only see me from the waist up. Pajamas below, business casual on top – the perfect sartorial compromise for the virtual scholar.

**1:00 PM - Lunch: Microwave Magic**

Lunch is a testament to the culinary wonders achievable with a microwave. A gourmet feast of leftovers is crafted in minutes, and I dine like a queen with a microwavable crown. Who needs a chef when you have reheated delights?

**3:00 PM - Power Nap Prodigy**

The afternoon lull hits hard, and I proudly don the title of Power Nap Prodigy. A strategic 20-minute nap rejuvenates both mind and spirit, turning a simple break into a productivity power move. Einstein would be proud.

**5:00 PM - DIY Fitness Fiesta**

In a bold attempt to embrace fitness, I embark on a DIY workout adventure. YouTube becomes my personal trainer, guiding me through exercises that promise to transform me into a fitness guru. Spoiler alert: my cat is more interested in the workout than I am.

**7:00 PM - Social Butterfly: Virtual Edition**

Socializing takes a digital turn, as I navigate the virtual world of video calls and online game nights. Pajamas, messy hair, and pixelated faces – the epitome of modern socializing. Who says you can't be a social butterfly from the comfort of your own cocoon?

**9:00 PM - Culinary Quests: The Dinner Chronicles**

Dinner is a culinary experiment, featuring a fusion of ingredients that have yet to meet in the natural world. Call it avant-garde cuisine or the result of an empty fridge – either way, it's an edible masterpiece, sort of.

**11:00 PM - Midnight Musings and Creative Crusades**

As the night deepens, creativity takes center stage. Whether it's writing poetry, painting, or contemplating the universe, the midnight hours are reserved for the artistic soul searching that fuels my creative crusades.

**2:00 AM - Insomniac Inspirations**

Sleep is elusive, and the night becomes a canvas for insomniac inspirations. With a cup of tea as my muse, I delve into projects, ideas, and the boundless potential of the nocturnal mind.

**4:00 AM - Stardust Dreams and Goodnight Streams**

Finally, as the world outside begins to stir, I surrender to the beckoning embrace of sleep. Dreams are woven from stardust and the lingering melodies of late-night streams. Another day in the life of a college girl comes to a close, with the promise of new adventures awaiting in the realm of dreams. Goodnight, nocturnal dreamers. 🌌💤

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thedarkthingcreator · 8 months

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IS ZOOM FATIGUE IS REAL?

WHAT IS ZOOM FATIGUE?

Zoom Fatigue Solutions

"Ouch! "My back hurts!"

"I'm exhausted for the day!"

"Oh, I can't sit there and stare anymore!"

Have you encountered this daily while attending numerous online meetings for an extended period? The majority of you will respond YES!

Zoom fatigue is the sense of being drained and fatigued after attending meetings daily. We may believe that sitting for long meetings has no effect on us because we only get to sit and do nothing physically, but it does affect us, mentally and physically, and has significant ramifications for our psychological well-being.

So, yes! Zoom Fatigue is a genuine thing! Going to school, college, and working were all routine until covid-19 arrived. We, as humans, searched a different path and, as technology advanced, we concluded that transitioning to an online form of operation was the best option. The first 3-4 months were pure comfort, as most people were able to relax and collect their thoughts by staying at home.

Time passed, yet the pandemic did not end. Because of the time spent attending meetings, tiny adjustments began to occur at that time. This is when Zoom fatigue comes into play. Zoom fatigue has several bad effects on us, and it's possible that we don't even realize it or blame it on something else. 80% of American workers suffer from "Zoom Fatigue."

What effect does Zoom Fatigue have on us?

Spending long hours and relying heavily on technology has an unmistakable influence on our physical and mental health. Constantly staring at screens and attending various types of meetings exhausts us. Zoom fatigue causes us to feel fatigued and burnt out, which leads to distraction and boredom after a while. At the end of the day, we are restless, which contributes to our inactivity.

Did you realize you can quantify burnout? Check out your burnout levels right here! The physical impact of Zoom fatigue on health is minimal. As we sit for an extended amount of time, our backs may stiffen, resulting in chronic back pain.

Zoom fatigue causes a sense of immobility. It can also make one feel helpless and despondent. We may feel as if our heads have grown heavier or lighter. We may experience eye irritation and pain, resulting in excessive tearing, blurriness, increased blinking, and double vision.

4 Ways to Reduce Zoom Fatigue:

1. Take a Brief Break

It is essential to take breaks between online meetings. The break could be brief. It might be as brief as 5-10 minutes, but it should be of high quality. Resting, lying on the bed for some time, going to the balcony and looking out the window, going for a short walk, and so on can all be part of the break.

Also, you can read self-help books. Check out our Self-Help Books blog.

2 . 5-4-3-2-1 Coping Strategy

Concentrate on the "here and now". Sit back, relax, and watch.

(i) Count the number of visible things.

(ii) Observe four objects that you can touch.

(iii) Pay attention to three items you can hear.

(iv) Notice two items you can smell.

(v) Notice one thing you can taste.

This approach is beneficial for slowing and relaxing our racing mind. It also makes us feel physically relaxed, which leads to mental relaxation.

3. Let's Disconnect to Connect

Meeting attendance is unavoidable. As a result, attempt to isolate yourself from technology at other times. Most of us spend our free time on social networking, watching movies, or playing video games.

Disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself by making time for activities that make you happy and make you feel good about yourself and your day. Connecting with ourselves is just as vital as connecting with others via Zoom. Zoom fatigue causes us to be restless and fatigued, which prevents us from working well.

Zoom fatigue may appear to be unavoidable, but we must believe that we can change how we think and that following the five steps listed above will help us lessen Zoom fatigue. If Zoom fatigue is causing you problems, talk to a professional about it. Schedule your session here.

4. LET US OVERCOME ZOOM FATIGUE!

Only those on call who are obliged to be present are invited. The goal should be to keep the calls as short as possible. We at GoodLives use this strategy to prevent video call weariness. We try to speak to our employees as needed during our meetings. People may leave the meeting once their mandatory conversation with one is completed. This decreases zoom fatigue and screen time.

Zoom fatigue may appear to be unavoidable, but we must believe that we can change how we think and that following the five steps listed above will help us lessen Zoom fatigue.

If Zoom fatigue is causing you undue stress, consult a professional. Schedule your session here.

LET US WIN! THE ZOOM FATIGUE..

For more such content visit GoodLives

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meinemung · 8 months

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Tech PM Girl Layoff Experience I wake up in stages. It's a smooth process as the multisensory alarm clocked used a combination of visual, olfactory, and auditory cues to gently wake me up whilst minimally disrupting circadian rhythm. Alternatively, it was flashing, playing muzak, and releasing a scent that was oddly reminiscent of Poo-Pourri into my 600-foot-square flat. I let it keep doing its thing while I grab my phone off the nightstand and catch myself up on the food pictures of college friends and what happened in the world while I was sleeping. I read some story about the plight of some molybdenum miners - I give a 'support' emoji in reaction and feel flushed . I also check my LinkedIn - nothing too interesting has happened. Some desperate wannabes who just so happened to graduate from the same university blew up my inbox for requests for referral. Do I know these people…? Next.

I press a button on the wall that slides up the shades - I am greeted with the excellent view of faceless office buildings of downtown Bellevue, slightly distorted by the pitter-pattering of a cold fall rain. I step onto the heated floor of my spacious bathroom and apply my mascara - I tell myself I always should have been a surgeon.

I check my calendar for the day. Daily standup at 11, some design meeting for two hours after lunch. The meeting load's relatively light for today. And oh, I see that my boss has scheduled a Zoom meeting for 3:30 in the afternoon. And her boss's attending too, along with some random HRBP Melissa. Oh, it must be because I created a new slack bot that looks up gender identities that perhaps are lesser known, and they're giving me an award! That must be it.

I sipped on my arugula - blueberry superfood smoothie while looking out at the tiny cars moving like clockwork along the slick, gridded streets. I feel an immense sense of satisfaction looking out at the tall buildings - monuments to the victory of the personal computer. I catch my reflection in the empty glass and back for a while in my awesomeness.

I fiddle around half heartedly with some wire-frames and add a few items to my to-do list. I then put on my anorak and boots and head out the door. The luscious "ooh whees" of my favorite song "Makeba" by Jain start playing as I put the white Model 3 in gear and peel out of the garage, wanting to make standup in the office.

The office is a gigantic glass-encrusted edifice near the mall. Multiple companies have offices here - including a coworking space (lame), the big M, some indie game studio, a generic Japanese e-commerce outfit, and of course our lovely company that connects the connected generation to the products they love.

Standup was mostly in Zoom, save for me and a girl that I'm roughly friendly with. I gave my update and pretended to be interested while the seniors blathered on about strategic priorities.

Lunch today consisted of Peruvian flank steak cooked sous vide in lemon ouzo marinade along with mixed spring vegetables topped off with fennel flavored mochi balls for dessert. I chewed mechanically, catching myself up with what happened in the world while I was in stand-up.

I took the design meeting at the desk. Everyone says that the weather here is garbage, but I honestly find it truly energizing to be sipping a blonde roast on the dry side of a pane of glass coated with droplets.

Then 3:30 came around and I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my stomach. Was the food not agreeing with me? Some of the options they got weren't fully organic, that I know. They were trying to cut costs, something about providing a return for their investors. Psh - I think that happy workers come first and only then do innovation and happy investors come. But I'm still excited for receiving commendation from my higher ups. Maybe I'll even be promoted! But there's also a queasy feeling that I can't entirely place, a feeling that I don't particularly feel like I should be experiencing.

I click on the Zoom link and … the queasy feeling spreads up to my throat. In three neat boxes are my boss, my skip, and some random HRBP drone, all with expressions that seem a bit too calculated. After some generic politenesses, then comes the money shot. "Given the current direction of our business, we were forced to make a few tough choices," my boss says. Her eyes were too shiny and appeared soulless with Zoom's post-processing. "It was an extremely difficult decision to make but regrettably your position has been impacted." My eyes widened and I could only could nod and say "thank you" dumbly as the HRBP detailed the severance plan and how the company was going to "support in my transition." I felt a burning sensation in the back of my throat and a sour taste in my mouth. I smush a finger against the webcam and throw up the ouzo beef and my superfood breakfast in the meeting room's wastebasket.

The meeting ends cordially. My last day is today. Anything I don't collect will be kindly shipped to me. I'll have to turn in my laptop and my badge as a condition of receiving my severance.

The view outside is now oppressive. The buildings, instead of being inspiring, are drab boxes beneath a drab sky. The weather suddenly seems oppressive, and I suddenly long for the straightforwardly bluish-yellow skies of California where I grew up. The cars out in the rain move unceasingly, reminding me how the world will never stop for me. It reminds me how everyone will move on without me. Tears well, pregnant and teetering at the edge of my eyes, but never fall.

I'm hungry and grab a quinoa chicken salad from the well-stocked Subzero fridges in the common area. My coworker is nowhere to be found. Was she "affected" too? I wish I could have someone to talk to but the common area is deserted.

Taking the first bite and realizing that all this was gone from me forever, the tears finally break, flowing down my cheeks, warm and itching, into the salad. My chest heaves slightly while I keep shoveling spoonfuls of the salad into my mouth and swallowing without fully chewing. I use a warm lavender towel to wipe off the mascara streaming down my face.

I grab a garbage bag from the supply cabinet and began ransacking the supply cabinet. I grab handfuls of all kinds of chips, staplers, notebooks, and yes, portions of the chicken salad and throw them willy-nilly into the bag.

The drive home is numb. For once there's no music except for the sound of the tires on rain-soaked pavement. The garbage bag of stuff rattle around in the frunk, and the Bankers Box of my personal effects slides around in the trunk.

I get home and check my fridge. Nothing but this organic crap. I had planned out a portion of buckwheat oatmeal along with some plant-based for tonight, but my stomach twisted immediately hearing. Fuck it, I'm going to Burger King.

Three whoppers, twenty nuggets, and one frosty later, I was in the elevator of my building. It was filled with people yet they were unseen, hidden behind the neat, thick walls. They were all enjoying their lives, preparing for their productive lives tomorrow, while I was going to, what? Cry and eat Phish Phood all day before dragging my sweatpants-clad ass to wait in the unemployment line?

I soaked for a long while in the tub thinking about nothing. I pulled up my phone and bring up the LinkedIn app. Some cheery business updates - about some new product the company was launching made my stomach churn. I decide to scroll through my connections to see if any were at companies that I might be interested to work at. A few clicks later,. After writing a few sentences that went something like "I was regrettably recently affected by the layoffs at …." but actually said "I'm utterly desperate", I realized that I barely know this person… even though they may have attended the same school as me, who would help someone they barely knew? I put the phone down, cursor still blinking, and fall asleep.

#tech #layoffs

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goodlives-mitansh · 11 months

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Is Zoom Fatigue Real? 4 Helpful Tips to Follow

WHAT IS ZOOM FATIGUE?

“Ouch! My back hurts!” “I’m so done for the day!” “Oh, I can’t sit and stare anymore!”Have you experienced this on a daily basis while attending various online meetings for a prolonged period? Most of you are going to say, YES!

Zoom fatigue refers to the feeling of getting drained and exhausted after attending meetings every day. We might think that sitting for long meetings does not have any impact on us, as we just have to sit and not do anything physically, but, it affects us, both physically and mentally, and has strong implications on our psychological well-being.

So, yes! Zoom Fatigue is real!

Going to school, college and work were normal, until, covid-19 hit us. We, as humans, tried to find an alternative, and with the technological developments, came to the conclusion of shifting to an online mode of functioning. The first 3-4 months were absolute bliss as most people got the time to relax and gather their thoughts by staying home.

Time passed and the pandemic did not come to an end. That’s when small changes started taking place due to the time spent attending meetings. That is where zoom fatigue comes in.

Zoom fatigue affects us in several negative ways and there is a possibility that we don’t even notice it or blame it for some other reason. 80% of U.S. workers experience ‘Zoom Fatigue.

What does Zoom Fatigue do to us?

Long working hours and high dependence on technology have an undeniable impact on our physical and mental well-being. Constantly spending time looking at screens and attending various kinds of meetings drains us too much.

Zoom fatigue results in us feeling exhausted and burnt out to the core, which further results in distraction and boredom after a certain period. At the end of the day, we feel so restless which contributes to us being unproductive.

The physical impact on health because of Zoom fatigue is rather subtle. Our back might get stiffer which can result in chronic back pain, as we tend to sit for long hours in one place.

Zoom fatigue results in a feeling of being stuck. It can also make a person feel very helpless and hopeless. We might feel like our head is getting heavier or lighter. We might feel irritation and pain in our eyes which results in excessive tearing, blurriness, increased blinking, and double vision.

Humans are social creatures. We always look up to something which acts as a driving force. That particular event motivates us to do things that we like, or may not like. We need human interactions but by evolution, we are not designed to look at screens for these interactions.

With the advancement of technology, there is a significant growth in zoom fatigue. But this doesn’t mean that there are no ways to manage Zoom fatigue.

Here are quick tips in which we can reduce the impact of zoom fatigue and that will help us remain fit.

4 Tips to Reduce Zoom Fatigue

1. Take a Break

Taking a break in between online meetings is very important. The break may not be long. It can be just a short 5-10 minutes break, but it should be a quality break. The break can include resting, lying on the bed for some time, going to the balcony and having a look outside, taking a short walk, etc.

You can also read self-help books. Check out our blog on Self-Help Books.

2. 5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique

Focus on the “here and now”. Sit down, relax and observe.

(i) Observe 5 things that you can see.

(ii) Observe 4 things you can touch.

(iii) Observe 3 things you can hear.

(iv) Observe 2 things you can smell

(v) Observe 1 thing you can taste.

This technique is very helpful when it comes to calming and relaxing our running thoughts. It also helps us feel relaxed physically which results in mental relaxation.

3. Let's Disconnect to Connect

Attending meetings is inevitable. Therefore, try to distance and disconnect yourself from technology at other times. Most of us use social media, watch movies, or play video games during our free time.

Disconnect from technology and connect with yourself by taking out time for things that you love to do to enjoy and feel good about yourself and your day. Connecting with ourselves is as important as connecting with others through zoom. Zoom fatigue results in us being restless and tired, which does not allow us to take care of ourselves.

Therefore, try to engage with activities that you love, to connect with your true self, which would help you to reduce the effects of zoom fatigue.

4. Optimize Your Meetings

Invite only those on call who are required to be present. The aim should be to keep the calls smaller. We at GoodLives follow this technique to reduce video call fatigue. In our meetings, we try to talk to our employees as and when required. When the required conversation with one is complete, people can leave the meeting. This reduces zoom exhaustion and lessens screen time.

Zoom fatigue might feel inescapable, but what we need to believe is that we have the power to make a difference in how we think, and following the above 5 tips would help us reduce zoom fatigue.

If zoom fatigue is affecting you too much then try talking to a professional about it. Book your session here.

LET’S WIN AGAINST ZOOM FATIGUE!

For more visit Goodlives

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tools4today · 11 months

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Digital Literacy (Stay in the Loop!)

Digital literacies refer to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to effectively navigate and participate in digital environments. This includes skills such as searching for information online, using social media, and evaluating online sources for credibility. It also includes an understanding of the social, cultural, and ethical implications of digital technologies. Digital literacies are becoming increasingly important in today's world, as more and more aspects of our lives are mediated by digital technologies.

Some examples of digital literacy skills include:

Basic computer skills, such as using a keyboard and mouse, and navigating different operating systems.

Internet skills, such as searching for information online, using email, and using social media.

Media literacy skills, such as evaluating the credibility of online sources, and understanding how media messages are constructed.

Privacy and security skills, such as protecting personal information online, and identifying and avoiding scams and phishing attempts.

Creative skills, such as using digital tools to create and edit media, such s photos and videos.

Critical thinking skills, such as analyzing and evaluating information found online, and identifying bias and misinformation.

Communication skills, such as using digital tools to communicate with others, and collaborating on projects.

Digital literacy is useful in many different situations, such as:

In the workplace, where digital skills are often required to perform job duties effectively.

In education, where digital technologies are increasingly used for teaching and learning.

In personal life, where digital skills are necessary to communicate with others, access information, and participate in online communities.

In civic life, where digital technologies are used to engage with government and participate in political processes.

In health care, where digital technologies are used to manage patient data and provide remote care.

Over the last 3 years, the Covid-19 pandemic has let me experience first hand the importance of digital literacy skills. For example, I am a college student and we were not able to meet in person for our classes, nor hold in person office hours. I had to get comfortable with doing coursework completely from my personal device. I had to attend zoom meetings instead of class, and write emails instead of attending office hours. Although it was a new experience, my digital literacy skills allowed me to overcome any obstacles that came with this change in environment. How have your digital literacy skills helped you stay in the loop?

IMPORTANT NOTE: These skills are constantly evolving as new technologies emerge, so it is important to continue to develop and refine them over time.

Want to learn more about the importance of digital literacy? Click the link below!

#digital literacy

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spikeisawesome456 · 1 year

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what happened this weeek bro????

Well, funny you should ask that, my friend! Completely unprompted and everything! 😅

Ahhh. But BOY has this week been a chore. The last two days especially. I'll put this in a read more to prevent dash clutter, because this is a LOT. -.-

Anyway. For context, I am currently getting my master's degree in Educational Counseling, to hopefully become a school counselor. My college is completely online, which is helpful in some ways, unhelpful in others. I am also an after school teacher at an elementary school, a job I've had for almost 5 years now.

So, on Monday the 3rd, almost two weeks ago, my very last grad class started. My program has us doing one class a month, instead of five classes a semester or something, so this is my only class for this month (and the next, since this is a research class/my thesis class, and is logically a bit longer).

However, instead of hearing from my new professor on the 3rd, we had radio silence for a week. This was very frustrating, since I have quite a few questions about my research project that I came up with in my last class in December (yes, my last class ended in December, I guess they didn't have this class until April for some reason. I've been doing my internship the last 3 months though, so I was fine with it), but I decided to overlook it and do the assignments, which were just to submit the assignments from the last research class I took in December, which was easy.

Then, this Monday the 10th, I finally heard from my professor. She sent everyone a few emails at 3 am (??? Why 3 am I have no idea. I bet she finally checked her email, went "OH SHOOT I HAVE CLASS" and frantically send the emails), one of which said our first zoom class was that day at 5pm. Problem is, I work until 6:00 every week day, and I didn't have nearly enough time to ask for the hour off. Plus, I was a bit pissed at my prof for not giving enough warning. I sent an email asking if she would record the class, as well as asking her my main question I had. She replied back saying that she wanted to meet up with me privately, which I said that I was amenable to, telling her my availability. She then... emailed me back (calling me KAREN, when I had said my name is KATIE VERY CLEARLY IN MY CLOSER AND MY EMAIL IS LITERALLY MY FULL NAME) saying I didn't answer her????? When I very obviously did???

Well. Whatever, it was weird, but we eventually decided to meet Friday (today) at noon. I confirmed it, she didn't, but I just hoped she'd make the meeting.

Which... she did not. I sent her an email this morning at 7:00 asking for confirmation, and she never responded??? At all??? Like... dude??????? Finally, at noon, I decided to call it a wash and went to lunch with my parents. I had left my internship early for the meeting, too, and I was honestly super pissed.

But you want to know the kicker?? The real kick in the nuts????? When I finally got to lunch and sat down at 12:50... I opened my email for funsies and saw that she had finally emailed me... AT 12:15, SAYING THAT SHE WAS WAITING IN THE CLASS ZOOM LINK THAT SHE SENT THE CLASS. THAT SHE NEVER TOLD ME WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET IN. WHAT THE HELL.

I was SO DONE at this point I wanted to scream. I have since emailed the director of the whole program, her boss, and hopefully the director will get back to me... soon. But I have a feeling I will be stuck with this moron, for my most important class. And the worst thing is, I STILL DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION, MEANING I DON'T KNOW IF I'M WASTING MY TIME DOING THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ugh.

Anyway. If you thought THAT was bad, I also found out that I'm apparently not enrolled in my second internship class, despite the fact I'm at the exact same location, with the exact same counselor as my supervisor (I have a new internship class every 200 hours apparently, needing 600 hours total). No one told me I needed to apply for each class, either. But regardless, I now have to apply to the next class, even though I just finished my last 200 hours and am now starting my next 200, but I don't even know if they will count because my school is incompetent. And on top of that, the person who is reviewing my application has no idea how to insert my birth day and SSN into the credential website to see if I am clear to work at a school. I'm just... so freaking done with this school, I HATE THEM SO MUCH AHHHHH.

AND THEN, ON TOP OF ALL THAT... At work yesterday, there was legit a NAKED MAN IN THE WINDOW OF THE HOUSE OVERLOOKING THE AREA WE HAVE THE KIDS PLAY IN EVERY DAY. AND TWO STUDENTS SAW HIM, ONE A KINDERGARTEN GIRL. AND SHE SAID SHE SAW EVERYTHING. This poor little girl... I looked to confirm there was indeed a naked man, and while I was able to look away fast enough to not see anything untoward (and the window was slightly blurred at least), I was able to confirm that he was, at least, not wearing a shirt or pants. Whether he had underwear on, I don't know, but it was still very disturbing, especially because he's been watching us for a few months now... I thought it was just some guy looking over his fence curiously at the kids outside, but now, I don't know. He definitely knew we were out there, since I am fairly certain I saw his face. My supervisor is handling this one, but I still am very creeped out by this.

Anyway, there is more, but I'm tired just writing this. I want to sleep for days, but I don't even get to rest this weekend, since I have homework THAT I DON'T KNOW WILL EVEN MATTER SINCE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO MY RESEARCH, but whatever. WHATEVER. At least the work isn't hard. It's just coming up with my questionnaire for the kids to answer. But still!!!

So, that's how my week has been going. How's yours?? :-) :-) :-)

#Personal post

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