FEELING FOMO? TRUST ME, YOU AIN’T THE ONLY ONE

What is FOMO?

 A lot of people might be wondering what’s FOMO? Well thats just an abbreviation, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) . Based on my research FOMO is a unique term which was introduced in 2004 but people started using the term not so long. The feeling or idea that you are missing out on something important or enjoyable that others are experiencing AKA FOMO. It is perception that others are having more fun, living better lives or experiencing better than you. Unsurprisingly, adolescents use social networking sites at high rate and experience FOMO as a result.

“You totally missed out” this sentence strikes fears in the hearts of many youth more than just anything else you can say to them. Infact missing out on something bothers a lot of people, there is even a special word that sick feeling they get in pits of their stomach: FOMO

• TIP: Fear of missing out is a relatively new construct  that needs attention, It is associated problematic social media usage and can be experienced as a range of negative emotions and feelings related to the need to belong. 

Due to some reasons a while back I tried this thing of being off social media. At first I thought I couldn’t do it but let me tell you that it was probably the best decision ever. Sometimes we actually need to do it, just so you know logging off your social media and be more present  in your life is the best feeling. By doing that (at least for me ) it helped me minimise my feelings towards “FOMO”. Using social media a lot can be pretty overwhelming as you keep seeing everyone’s posts and life updates then boom you are comparing your life with others. When experiencing FOMO, you have the urge to be connected with what other people are doing and you start to compare yourself with them. This may also lead to feelings of lower self worth if other people seemingly have better life experiences than ourselves. What even bothers me is that most people who do that are people who are living their best life maybe just not exciting as others. 

Most people at one time or another have been preoccupied by the idea that someone, somewhere, is having a better time or leading a more exciting life. For those who skew towards such feelings, smartphone’s and social media made it easier for them to track what others are doing, I know someone might be thinking do people really do that? Check you out? Yes they do and Of course there is nothing wrong with wanting to keep tabs on people we care about or obsessed over. Soo don’t feel bad about it.

FOMO can involve a deep sense of envy of others feelings or better yet feeling unhappy about your own life, can also make you feel anxious about not living the life thats not too exciting as others. Whether social media induces FOMO or simply just make it easier to indulge in our feelings is up for debate. It doesn’t come as shock to us that something as new and transformative as this technology would have a complex implications on our daily lives, both negative and positive.

There is this series I once watched and there was a statement that kind of hooked me, “ I get worried when I find out my friends are having fun without me “ and if I were to ask people to rate themselves from 1 to 5 on how well that statement is correlated with their lives, 90% of people would rate 4/5 if they are being honest. 

Limiting your time on social media is sooo important because you get to know yourself, engage with other in real life conversations with other people.

 Have you ever read the old phrase “the grass ain’t greener on the other side” meaning people often assume that there better things in other place’s. Well thats what will happen if you experience FOMO . You will feel like you miss out on a lot of things. I’ve been there, I know the feeling I kept comparing myself to other people although I was living the life I wanted but I felt like I wanted more. While I was caught up in that momento I gave myself these questions: 

Why would I feel fear of missing out? 

Why do I have to compare my life to other peoples life while I have the best life ever? 

Those questions kinda opened the door for me cause I remember I used to feel anxious about not being an outgoing person, then I realized thats just not my life. 

So guy’s there’s no need for us to feel FOMO. Be grateful for what you are and what you have. It’s the most fundamental things that we to do in order to handle our FOMO feelings. Love your self and appreciate what life has offered you.🫶🏽