What is FOMO and what can you do about it?
The warm weather has (finally) arrived, and summer is just around the corner, bringing with it an abundance of social events, vacations, and festivals. While many look forward to these experiences, others may feel increasing anxiety about missing out on something—also known as FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). In this article, I will explore what FOMO is, how it can affect us, and what we can do to manage it.
What is FOMO?
FOMO is a feeling of anxiety that others are having more exciting and rewarding experiences than you are—and that you are missing out on them. It can create a sense that there is always something better and more exciting happening that you are not part of. This can lead to a stronger urge to keep up with what others are doing, with social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook playing a significant role.
In the summer, FOMO can become more pronounced—when we see family, friends, and acquaintances sharing pictures from summer parties, concerts, restaurant visits, vacations, and trips, it can create a sense of inadequacy and fear of missing out on something important. Many become addicted to keeping up with the posts their friends, family, and acquaintances share, fearing they might miss an opportunity or interaction.
How does FOMO affect us psychologically?
It can have significant psychological effects, such as increased stress, anxiety, and a general feeling of dissatisfaction and inadequacy. It particularly affects our self-esteem and creates a worry about whether we are doing enough or the right things with our time. FOMO can also result in difficulty making decisions, as there can be a fear of choosing "wrong" or missing out on other experiential opportunities.
In a desperate attempt to keep up with others' lives and through the inability to make decisions for ourselves, we end up missing out on our actual experience of the present moment. This can create great discomfort and suffering when we are not present in our real experiences as they happen, but instead are caught up in thoughts about others' lives, the past, and the future.
How can you manage FOMO?
Acceptance: You don't need to know everything, be part of everything, and be present all the time—it is important to recognize that you will always miss out on opportunities and experiences; that's just life for all of us, and that's okay.
Limit screen time: Try to reduce your time on social media and be mindful of how much and how you use it.
Focus on the present: Practice being present in the moment, focus on your senses, and appreciate the moments you are experiencing here and now.
Create your own experiences: Plan activities that bring you joy, whether they are big or small.
Be your own best friend: Check in with yourself—what do you want? What do you have the energy for? What would make you happy?
Summer is wonderful and full of opportunities, and it is completely normal to experience feelings of FOMO when we see all the lovely experiences others share on social media. But by being aware of these feelings, we can actively take a step back and instead focus on our own desires and needs, creating experiences that bring joy specifically for you.