Overcome FOMO and embrace JOMO
Imagine a serene Sunday evening, as you sit at your favourite spot at home, basking in the golden hour, deeply engrossed in a book, or sipping coffee. You open your social media account and see your friend’s feed which is buzzing with loads of pictures of exotic vacations, crowded brunch spots, and lively gatherings, and suddenly a feeling of being left out hits you. This fear of missing out is referred to as FOMO. In this feature, we will discover how you can overcome FOMO and embrace JOMO.
The phrase ‘FOMO’ has become increasingly prevalent with the pervasive influence of social media and the constant connectivity it offers. Many people find themselves spiralling into a never-ending loop of comparison, often leading to feelings of restlessness and anxiety. This feeling of inadequacy over missing out on exciting experiences showcased by others often impacts one’s mental health. However, there is a quiet revolution brewing, that encourages embracing the joy of missing out, or ‘JOMO’, crafting a path to peace and joy.
Imagine, instead of feeling left out, you could revel in the joy of missing out! Let us dive deeply into the origins of the concept, its impact on one’s mental well-being and powerful strategies to overcome FOMO, all to embrace JOMO.
What is FOMO?
A fundamental part of our evolutionary history is the human tendency to seek social connection and belonging. However, in today’s fast-paced digital age, this desire has been amplified and distorted by constantly being in touch through social media connections. The perfect lives ad exciting experiences showcased by others can invoke feelings of missing out on life’s best moments.
FOMO is the feeling of overwhelm or insecurity that arises from the perception that other people are experiencing more interesting or fulfilling things than you are. This constant feeling drives individuals to endlessly scroll through their social media feeds so they don’t feel left out. FOMO can originate from a range of sources, including societal pressure to always have the best, curated version of life that people showcase on digital spaces.
FOMO can have a significant impact on one’s mental health. If not monitored, it can cause stress, anxiety, and a feeling of not being good enough. Incessantly comparing one’s life with others often leads to low self-esteem and low self-confidence. People develop a feeling of lack in their own lives and create negative self-perception. In addition to this, the incessant need to be connected and engaged leads to burnout as one is constantly under the pressure of creating regular updates of their life, showcasing how exciting their life is. FOMO’s impact on mental well-being is profound and effectively addressing these effects plays a vital role in cultivating a healthier relationship with oneself, allowing for a more fulfilling life.
Strategies to overcome FOMO
Limit social media use
So, what should be the first strategy to overcome FOMO? Yes! Limit your time on social media. Have you ever noticed how you reach out to your phone every few minutes to spend hours in endless scrolling? Imagine what could be done in that time you wasted. Restricting your time on social media reduces your exposure to the portrayals of other’s lives, hence lessening the urge to compare your life to others. Moreover, it gives time for other meaningful and fulfilling activities such as cultivating hobbies or pursuing personal goals. This shifts the focus towards a much greater sense of satisfaction, thereby reducing the need to seek validation from others. You can follow this by setting specific time boundaries to check social media, turning off notifications, and by replacing the time spent on social media with other activities and pursuits.
Practice gratitude
Another way to overcome FOMO is by starting to acknowledge and appreciate what you already have. This can be done through the power of gratitude. Take out time each day to reflect upon things you are grateful for, rather than what you are lacking. This shift in focus creates a greater sense of satisfaction, improves your mood, and develops an abundance mindset. Instead of comparing your life with others, you can learn to count your blessings in life. Gratitude fosters contentment, reducing feelings of envy and jealousy. You can start by keeping a gratitude journal and writing down three to five things you are grateful for each day. Be grateful to others and find joy in simple pleasures of life like watching the sunrise, enjoying a cup of tea, or reading your favourite book.
Prioritise your goals
When you do not have clarity about your goals, you tend to drift towards what others are doing in their lives. When you start prioritising your goals and have a clear plan to achieve your ambitions, you start focusing more on self. Identify your values and priorities and take time to reflect on what matters to you the most. You can do this by first defining your goals. Once you have defined your goals, break them down into smaller steps and create a plan to achieve those by creating manageable deadlines for each one of them. This keeps you motivated and reduces the distractions. Practice self-discipline and celebrate your progress from time to time as you get closer to your desired results.
Mindfulness and meditation
When you endlessly scroll social media, you gather a lot of unnecessary information. Your mind gets clouded with thoughts and eventually, it gets too overwhelming. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and being aware of your thoughts and feelings. It involves paying attention to the present moment and accepting it without changing it. Meditation involves training the mind to focus and direct your thoughts. Both mindfulness and meditation can help increase self-awareness and improve emotional regulation. In addition, this also reduces impulsive behaviour like constantly checking social media, impulsive shopping, and saying yes to events out of fear of missing out. These practices can help you cultivate inner peace and resilience in the face of FOMO.
Set healthy boundaries
is crucial to set healthy boundaries and reclaim control over your time and energy when it comes to overcoming the fear of missing out. It involves learning to say no to activities and events that do not align with your priorities or values, allowing you to focus on what is more important for you. Setting boundaries clarifies your values, preserves your energy and protects your time, eliminating stress and cultivating deeper connections with yourself and others. Understand that you don’t have to be present everywhere your friends and family are to enjoy life, sometimes pure joy will reside in your own company.
What is JOMO?
JOMO is about finding happiness an contentment in the moments when you choose to opt-out, slow down, and focus on what truly matters to you. It is a mindset shift that encourages one to embrace the present moment and find fulfillment in simple pleasures. Embracing JOMO can lead to a greater sense of peace and well-being. It’s about recognising that one can’t do it all, and that’s okay. But the question arises, in this constantly rushing world, how can one find joy in missing out? Here are some pointers to keep in mind:
Enjoying solitude
Embracing solitude and enjoying your own company is a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth. This can help you recharge, gain clarity about your thoughts, and reconnect with yourself at a deeper level. Being in solitude also increases self-awareness and enhances creativity among individuals. One can enjoy solitude by setting aside regular alone time in their schedule and engage in self-care activities that they like, be it journalling, being with nature, etc. Solitude is not being in isolation; it’s about intentionally choosing time to nourish your body, mind, and soul.
Savour the moment
Take a pause and appreciate the present moment. Acknowledge what you already have and feel grateful for that. One way of being present in the moment is to unplug yourself regularly from technology. Take breaks from social media, disconnect yourself from the constant stream of information, and recharge yourself. Focus on the present moment and savour the experiences that you are having, whether you are pursuing a hobby, sipping your favourite coffee or out on a vacation.
Quality over quantity
Embrace the idea that less is more! Instead of doing it all, take fewer things and try to do it well. Take this idea to create meaningful connections as well. Invest time in building meaningful connections with others. Quality is often more important than quantity when it comes to relationships. In the context of JOMO, quality over quantity means choosing to invest your time and energy in experiences, relationships, and activities that align with your values and bring you joy. It truly helps you to overcome FOMO.
In conclusion, the journey where you overcome FOMO and embrace JOMO is a transformational one towards a more intentional, fulfilling life. It’s about finding balance in a world that is constantly pulling us in different directions. So, let go of the pressure of doing it all and find joy and happiness in missing out on things that don’t align with you!
With a little effort towards knowing yourself, you will be able to better define your likes, dislikes, and priorities. When you set out on this journey and start putting your energies into things that truly matter to you, nothing else will ever give you more happiness than that. It’s that easy.
Artice by: Dr. Manjula Vijh
