Ever scroll through Insta and feel like everyone’s living the dream life except you? You’re not alone. That sinking feeling in your heart, the one that says, “Maybe I should be at that party instead of stuck here scrolling through twitter,” is called FOMO – the Fear Of Missing Out and its completely valid to feel this way.
FOMO: The Not-So-Lit Party Crasher
FOMO is basically your brain throwing a tantrum because it thinks everyone else is having more fun. It’s like that annoying friend who tags themselves in every party pic, even if they just showed up for the free pizza and ended up hiding in the bathroom the whole time scrolling through their phone (because let’s be honest, sometimes parties are overrated).
A Social Media Stalker:
You spend hours glued to your phone, desperately trying to keep up with everyone’s every move. Like, come on, Brenda, we all know you didn’t bake those cookies from scratch – we saw the box in the background of your pic!
The Discount Kardashian:
You see someone’s trip to Bali and suddenly YOU NEED to be there, posting swimsuit pics that look like they belong in a travel brochure (spoiler alert: travel brochures have professional photographers and those models probably spend more time editing their pics than actually enjoying the beach).
The Queen (or King) of Impulsive Decisions:
FOMO convinces you to spend your lunch money on concert tickets you can’t afford, just because everyone else is going. Remember that time you bought those light-up shoes because they were all the rage online? Yeah, those are still collecting dust in your closet next to the “funny” mustache you bought on a whim. FOMO – not the best financial advisor.
The Social Media Monster: Making FOMO Worse!
Let’s face it, social media doesn’t exactly help:
Highlight Reels, Not Reality: People only post the good stuff – the perfect vacations, the amazing outfits, the dazzling nightclubs and parties the long drives, the squad laughing hysterically etc.
Remember, it’s a reel, not an autobiography. It’s like watching a movie trailer – it looks exciting and fun, but in reality, it doesn’t show you all the boring bits and the arguments that the actors had while shooting!
From FOMO to JOMO: Flipping the Script
Okay, FOMO is Harsh. But there’s good news: you can totally tackle it! Here’s how to reverse from FOMO to JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out):
Gratitude is Your BFF:
Take a sec each day to appreciate the awesome stuff in your life. Maybe it’s your squad who always has your back, that killer playlist that gets you pumped, or even those fluffy slippers that feel like walking on clouds (because let’s be honest, real clouds are probably just filled with mosquitos anyway). Write them down in a gratitude journal – it’ll shift your focus from what’s missing to what rocks!
Do You, Boo:
Stop comparing yourself to others. You’re one-of-a-kind, with your own unique hobbies, likes, dislikes and aspirations. Who cares if Apoorva went skydiving? You’re busy mastering the art of the perfect meme (which is a valuable skill, by the way, because let’s be honest, laughter is the best medicine, besides pasta of course😊).
Navigate your Digital Path:
Social media should be a platform to socialise with people who inspire you. Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. Follow artists you adore, meme pages that crack you up, and positive peeps who spread good vibes. Basically, curate your feed like you curate your playlist – ditch the sad songs and blast the ones that make you wanna dance like nobody’s watching (because let’s be honest, someone probably is watching, but that’s okay).
Put Down the Phone, Pick Up Your Life:
Social media can be a time suck. Set limits on how much you scroll. Seriously, do you really need to see what Brenda ate for breakfast? Use that free time to do stuff that makes you happy or better yet try new things! You never know what the universe might have put in store for you and you may find your next obsession.
Lastly, always remember that, your journey is different than everybody else. So don’t try to live anyone elses life rather than your own.