In the age of social media, it is easier than ever to see all that you could be missing out on. We may even say yes to events that would be inconvenient for us just so that we don’t feel left out. We believe you should value your time more, so we’ve compiled a list to help you take control of your FOMO.
Realise social media only shows you the highlight reels:
No one is having an exciting time, all the time. Perhaps when you’re at a certain event, some of your other friends are staying home. Other times you will be at home while some of your friends are out. We tend to only show the best of our lives on social media. You don’t get to see that your friends are also in bed scrolling through Netflix some days. Your life is likely just as exciting as others, you just don’t realise it.
Realise you cannot do everything:
Things will always be happening without you. You cannot be everywhere at once and that is okay. In fact, those that are always at social events are probably the ones with the biggest FOMO which will inevitably leave them feeling burnt out. Remember that you win some and lose some in life.
Remember it is ok to stay in:
Sometimes we would rather stay in but feelings of missing out make us feel guilty for making that choice. You don’t want to sacrifice your wellbeing or responsibilities just because of FOMO. If you have a paper to finish or parental responsibilities – or even if you just want to catch up on the latest episode of your favourite show – give yourself permission to do these things without guilt. Matter of fact, if you were out you would just be regretting not taking care of yourself and your responsibilities.
Be Happy For Others:
One of the main causes of FOMO is a feeling of jealousy. You wonder why you’re not the one having an enjoyable time. You can counter this feeling by being happy that others are having a good time. Next time you see your friends, ask them about how the event was.
Step away from social media:
Schedule events for yourself:
If you’re missing out on events, just schedule your own for a time that’s suitable for you! Making our own plans allows us to do things on our own terms and allows us to have a better time than we might have attending someone else’s get together. If this is also impossible, just make sure you take some time out of your schedule to take care of yourself. Do something small but nice for yourself.
The Psych Talk 
These are great pieces of advice! I use to have FOMO sooo much more then I do now. I realized through therapy though that a lot of pics and social media updates are just for show. When I started hanging with people who would always post pics at parties or events, I realized how they actually were NOT enjoying themselves. So much arguing and attitude, frustrations to have everything come out perfect. Then they would snap pics here and there and you’d never know what was truly happening behind the scenes. That helped me a lot to no longer feel jealous of not being around. It helped me to realize actual fun and good times can happen outside of social media. No pressure, just plain enjoyment.
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That’s very true! All the effort to keep our social media accounts updated can take the enjoyment out of spending time with people. The memories are made when we are off our devices. I’ve also noticed that sometimes people fake happy for photos but they’re just sitting around bored otherwise. We’re never missing out on as much as we would think from all the photos!
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Exactly! It’s for show.
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This is how I feel about whenever my mother insists we take photos during family outings. Especially bothersome is the “oh, we have to do a retake” or “let’s take another snapshot” remarks that really can sour my mood quickly. Since when did standing for photos become a tedious chore? And then those photos where we have those practiced smiles are placed by her onto Facebook and literally all her friends write comments gushing about how happy we look and how great it is we’re all together as a family, yet all I can think about is how fake most of it was. A recent trip I took with my parents and brother fits this bill exactly. For the photos, we looked “happy” but behind the camera, there was a lot of tension and arguments.
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Facebook Walls have more stuff than the four walls of our house, are infested with more spam than in a scrapyard. Enlightenment cones sooner or later, I believe.!
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Facebooking, Twittering and Whatsapping to the point of hating your life and the people who give undue weightage to everyday acts to appear too cool for words, it isn’t about the number of ‘likes’ or ‘Followers’, but about how the person who liked or ‘followed’ you matters to you. Too many Selfies, pics of dining out with family, friends it is nothing but a circle of make-believe ostentation. If you ask me, virtual emoticons, hugs, kisses and PDA are obnoxious. Try to stay in sync with who you really are and what you truly value. The actual things to seek and cherish really do not need others’ validation!
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Such helpful suggestions. Thank you – I will be sharing these with some friends. Thank you for the like at DailyBiblePrayer. I hope the prayers will encourage you and help deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ. God bless your day. Laura
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Thank you so much, Laura! God bless!
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Reblogged this on Bon Bon Lifestyle Webazine.
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Reblogged this on Bon Bon Lifestyle Webazine.
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