We have all been there. Scrolling through social media when suddenly you see an image of your friends doing something fun. Perhaps you were invited. Perhaps not. Your insides churn. What are you missing out on by not being there? Will inside jokes be exchanged? Will you miss a truly exciting moment? In recent years, this phenomenon has been dubbed “Fear of Missing Out,” or FOMO for short.
How I Met Your Mother comedically tackled this issue in one episode with a character called “The Blitz.” Every time Blitz leaves the room, something absolutely amazing happens. That is FOMO in action.
In the age of Instagram and “coachella culture” FOMO is on the rise. Think of Fyre Festival (and if you don’t know what that is, take a moment and watch the Netflix and Hulu documentaries ASAP). Fyre Festival received the vast amount of interest it did for one reason: FOMO. The festival promised supermodels and A-list bands in a luxury beach environment. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? And yet the festival failed so spectacularly due to a lack of infrastructure and false marketing.
FOMO extends even farther than just the feeling of being left out. We compare our worst days against the perfectly curated Instagram grid of influencers (Misled Millennial does a fabulous job of showing side by side what a curated grid and real life really look like). We see picture perfect families, promotions, and weddings on Instagram and Pinterest and we ask ourself, “Why don’t I have that?” A recent study found that of various social media channels Instagram had the highest negative impact on teen’s mental health stating Instagram, “negatively impacts body image and sleep, increases bullying and “FOMO” (fear of missing out), and leads to greater feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.” It isn’t all bad though, the study also found Instagram has a positive effect on “self-expression, self-identity, community building, and emotional support.”
So what do we do about FOMO?
Today I am going to introduce you to a simple concept: JOMO, or the Joy of Missing Out.
So, why should you embrace JOMO?
More Time
How much screen time do you spend per day? According to my phone I spend 4h and 17 minutes of screen time per day on average. Now, I would love to claim that the majority of that time is listening to audiobooks (which some of it is), but the reality is that I spend around 16 hours per week on social media. And that is just on my cell phone! That doesn’t include my laptop where I work professionally on social media.
By embracing the joy of missing out, I could have more time in my life. Say for instance I do spend 16 hours per week on social media x 52 weeks in a year. That is 832 hours per year! That is 34 days of time a year JUST ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
While I will continue to use social median by embracing JOMO I can take an opportunity to step back and stop the scroll as opposed to endlessly looking through Facebook. After all, who really needs to re-read someone’s status for the 15th time?
Being Present
When we are so wrapped up with worrying about missing out on something, we miss the opportunities that are right in front of us. Taking a digital detox means that you have an opportunity to focus on what truly matters. No more endless scrolling at the dinner table or distracted conversation. By embracing JOMO you gain something so much more rewarding: Being able to fully be alive in your life.
You Time
Image what you can do with all the time you aren’t scrolling. As opposed to looking through the weekend’s Coachella sets, light some candles and take a bath. Read a new book you are excited about. Go out to dinner with people you truly care about and don’t bring your phone.
By celebrating JOMO, you are taking the first step to reclaiming your life.