Mariam Khaled
Finally, the weekend has come! But why do I feel like I have to keep running? I have five books to read, 3 new places to visit, and want to take thousands of new pictures. Why the hustle while it is just time to chill?
If you feeling the same, this is definitely FOMO.
The ceaseless Fear Of Missing Out is a part of social anxiety disorder that is becoming increasingly prevalent among various age groups especially social media users, where there is a continuous feeling that one is missing out something valuable.
To cut it short, you’d rather be somewhere else doing something else because whatever you are doing now is not that worthy and others are just doing what is better.
In June 2015, FOMO was among a bundle of 500 new words added to the Oxford English dictionary. The syndrome was first studied in 1996, however, the ancient writings have proved that it has existed for centuries.
Why would something that has passed unnoticed for a very long time gain all this attention? Social media is the answer.
There is a direct relation between overdependence on social media and FOMO. This actually makes perfect sense! In a world where “real” social life is being hastily shifted towards a “virtual” version, social disorder is normally exacerbated by social media.
What is also vicious about these apps is that they only show you edited, fabricated and filtered “highlights” of other people life. This is just unrealistic.
The good thing here is that FOMO is not that incurable illness, the cure is JOMO “Joy Of Missing Out”.
Here are few steps that one can take to curb this awkward feeling.
First of all, live your life, quit on the habit of seeking approval through posts and reacts.
Why don’t you start keeping a personal journal that has your happy moment?
Also, have your own standards regardless to “social media standards”. In addition, missing out on “trends” would never make you the black sheep, you are perfectly the same way you used to be before!
Finally, before doing something (even if it is a good thing), take a moment to stop and ask yourself whether you are doing it for the right reasons or not.
Read a lot but not to clear your “to read lists” and add more achievements to your Goodreads shelf.
Visit new places to discover more, not to check a list created by a blogger or an influencer, take abundance of new pictures, to record memories but not to get the picture-perfect for your account.
In conclusion, there is always an opportunity to break the hideous cycle of FOMO, isn’t it?
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