After you submit a photograph on Instagram, do you verify each 5 minutes to see in the event you received a brand new like? Do you regulate others so that you don’t miss out on any motion? Or are you all the time anxious that you’ll miss some good vacation supply or an funding alternative?
If you happen to answered “sure” to at the least one of many questions, it’s fairly potential that you might be affected by the FOMO phenomenon. In as we speak’s article, we are going to inform you extra about what it entails and how one can combat it.
What’s FOMO?
FOMO is an English acronym representing the worry of lacking out. Sometimes, it might seem like, for instance, a priority that you’ll not react in time to a brand new submit and due to that you simply’ll miss out on one thing, or that you’ll not reply to a good friend’s message as shortly as they count on you to. You typically choose up your telephone solely to verify in case you have any notifications, or to shortly undergo your feed or tales and be sure that nothing fascinating is basically occurring.
Nevertheless, FOMO can present itself in lots of different conditions. It may possibly occur, for instance, in reference to numerous fashionable issues that just about everybody round you has, if you all of a sudden get the urge to purchase them too. Typically you won’t even be so certain that these items will truly be appropriate for you. The identical is true for conditions the place folks round you begin investing and speaking about it. It’s possible you’ll then have a compulsive have to get into it too, so that you simply don’t unintentionally miss out on one thing nice.
The entire thing will not be actually that shocking. Folks have the must be a part of society, however the query stays, the place is the road between what remains to be okay and when it exceeds the tolerable restrict? [1]
It’s unimaginable to find out precisely when the necessity to do sure issues is regular, and when it’s, however, uncontrollable FOMO. Every individual has this restrict set of their head in another way. Sometimes, nevertheless, folks change into within the FOMO phenomenon in the meanwhile after they begin feeling that they may have an issue themselves.
How can FOMO present itself within the on-line atmosphere?
- You possibly can change into bothered by the truth that you might be consistently in your telephone and don’t sustain along with your regular duties.
- You’re feeling confused if you don’t have your telephone with you and may’t usually verify it.
- You might be overly involved with different folks’s lives and examine your self to them.
- The considered working out of battery throughout the day and never being on-line scares you.
- These near you level out that you’re all the time taking a look at your telephone and never taking note of them.
This record might go on, including many extra related factors that point out that one thing could also be incorrect. The issue often begins with wanting on the telephone usually, however later different associated signs may seem.

Signs that could be troubling you attributable to FOMO:
- Lack of sleep
- Emotional pressure
- Bodily discomfort
- Depressive signs
- Nervousness
- Envy of others
- Lack of emotional management
- Feeling of not becoming into society
- Diminished high quality of life [2–4]
You possibly can learn extra concerning the signs of lack of sleep within the article What Occurs to Your Physique When You Don’t Get Sufficient Sleep?
Why can we crave social interactions?
To be able to perceive why it makes us really feel so good to have a look at our telephone and consistently scroll via social networks, we have to clarify how Fb, TikTok or Instagram work. Their main goal is to assault dopamine, a hormone within the mind that’s related to the reward system. When somebody invitations you to an occasion, or likes your picture, the dopamine centre reacts and you are feeling a sure degree of satisfaction. Nevertheless, this sense is sort of addictive, so the mind sends compulsive tendencies to do different actions that may convey you related satisfaction. So that you attain on your telephone again and again, ready for notifications or posts that may in flip offer you the specified reward. [5–6]
You could be keen on these merchandise:
You’re not on-line that a lot, so you’re feeling like FOMO doesn’t apply to you?
Are you not all the time on-line and may you simply think about your day with out your telephone? That doesn’t imply FOMO can’t have an effect on you. Though this drawback is often related to the net world today, it’s not a situation. You may as well expertise the sensation of lacking out on one thing offline. [7]
FOMO within the offline world:
- Going to a celebration simply so that you don’t miss out.
- Having a foul feeling when colleagues at work speak about an occasion you didn’t attend.
- Not understanding inside jokes of a sure group of individuals.
- Being afraid of lacking a great deal in a retailer.
- Not being invited to an occasion.
- Not being picked for a group.
- Getting concerned in investing simply because everybody else is.
- Watching a present simply to maintain up with the dialog.
- Shopping for a selected sort of clothes as a result of everybody else has it.
- Attempting to do fascinating issues to maintain up with others.
- Being unable to chill out due to the worry of lacking one thing.
As you may see, FOMO lurks round each nook even within the offline world. As people, we usually have a must be a part of society. This want is described as so-called social starvation. And once we really feel that we’re overlooked of one thing, it might make us really feel uncomfortable. How intense these emotions are is completely different for everybody. Analysis exhibits, nevertheless, that younger individuals who use social networks endure from this drawback at the next fee. On the similar time, extroverts who’ve a have to share their lives extra and on the similar time search extra social interactions are extra in danger. Nevertheless, it seems that FOMO associated to the net atmosphere is considerably extra frequent and in addition extra dangerous. [7–8]
Different related ideas:
Along with FOMO itself, there are numerous different ideas which are associated to this situation and you need to find out about them. [11]
- FOBO (Concern of Higher Choices) – worry that you may get a fair higher deal than you could have now.
- MOMO (Thriller of Lacking Out) – the worry that you’re lacking one thing, however you don’t know what it’s.
- FOJI (Concern of Becoming a member of In) – the worry that the stuff you submit on social networks is not going to get any response.
- ROMO (Reduction of Lacking Out) – being purposefully oblivious to what’s occurring
- JOMO (Pleasure of Lacking Out) – pozitivní pocit z toho, že o něco přicházíte.


9 Tricks to Struggle FOMO
V boji s FOMO nám může pomoci příklon okay druhé straně – JOMO. Podstata spočívá v tom, že bychom se měli odklonit od strachu z toho, že něco zmeškáme, a naopak se radovat, že jsme něco propásli a měli čas věnovat se sobě. S tím nám mohou pomoci i následující physique.
1. Dwell within the current second
So as to not succumb to the sensation that you’re consistently lacking one thing, you should benefit from the current second to the utmost. Because of this, you’ll have the opportunity to focus extra on your self. If you happen to don’t know how one can be within the current second, mindfulness could be the reply. It may possibly aid you higher respect joys of on a regular basis life that you could be take without any consideration, in addition to work higher along with your ideas and emotions.
The way to do mindfulness?
- Begin by discovering a place (sitting, mendacity down) by which you’ll really feel comfy and relaxed.
- Focus solely in your breath, strive not to consider the rest.
- If you happen to can’t focus in your breath, strive counting the seconds of inhaling and exhaling, this could distract you sufficient from different ideas.
- In case your thoughts begins to marvel, attempt to push your different ideas to the background and re-anchor to your breath.
By mastering this system you be taught to work along with your thoughts. You’ll then be capable to disconnect your self from the occasions that trigger you disagreeable emotions at any time throughout the day, and get your focus again on your self.
O meditaci se více dočtete v článku Meditace: Způsob, jak najít vnitřní pokoj, zlepšit soustředění a snížit stres.




2. Put your telephone away
Intentionally set your telephone to point out you ways a lot time you spend on it per day. You possibly can even pull up a report on how a lot time you spend in every particular person app. Possibly you’re feeling such as you solely peek at your telephone right here and there. If that’s the case, you could be much more stunned if you discover out that you simply spend a number of hours a day on social networks watching the lives of others. Are you able to think about what you may accomplish in the event you devoted this time to your self?
If you happen to get distracted by each notification and may’t resist the urge to see what’s new, flip the notifications off. This fashion you’ll solely see new posts if you open the app. And if that doesn’t aid you with the urge to open Instagram or TikTok, strive logging out of the apps and turning off computerized login.
Having to consistently fill out the login type is annoying, it’s not even price a fast look. Utilizing this method, you may designate a sure period of time, an hour for instance, every day to log in and really take pleasure in your time on social networks. And perhaps after a while you’ll discover that you simply’re probably not wanted there, and also you’ll sign off after only a few minutes. The time you’ll spend watching different folks’s lives could be stuffed with sports activities or making ready wholesome treats. You possibly can search for inspiration in our health recipes.
If you wish to be taught extra concerning the dangers of scrolling, then you shouldn’t miss our article How Does Countless Scrolling on Social Media Impacts You?
3. Work in your targets
Are you aware which persons are essentially the most targeted on the lives of others? Those that themselves would not have a correctly outlined related aim to work in direction of. If you happen to focus extra on your self, you gained’t fear as a lot about different folks’s lives or the stuff you may miss.
In order for you some assist with reaching your targets, try our article The way to Set a Aim and Efficiently Obtain It.
4. Set your priorities straight
Are you all the time on social media as a result of you may’t stand the thought that you simply may miss one thing? If that’s the case, strive to consider whether or not you could be lacking one thing else. Fairly probably one thing extra substantial. There are actual folks round you who gained’t be right here ceaselessly. It might be your dad and mom, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. Shouldn’t they be the main focus of your consideration? I personally don’t know of anybody who regrets the time they spent offline as an alternative of getting their telephone of their hand. However I do know some individuals who regretted the time they spent on-line as a result of they may have been doing rather more helpful issues as an alternative. Possibly you need to strive pointing your FOMO in a unique path and pay extra consideration to the individuals who are near you.




5. Don’t take social media so significantly
Needless to say on social networks you solely see a fraction of individuals’s lives. If somebody will not be doing properly, there isn’t any want for them to tell the entire world about it. Take into consideration what you share in your profiles. Are they trip photographs, or are you pulling out your telephone in the midst of a combat along with your companion to get materials on your newest reels? I suppose it’s extra the previous.
Individuals who have a harmonious and glad relationship typically don’t have the necessity to persuade the entire world round them how glad they’re, so that they merely don’t submit concerning the particular moments they share with their important different. Nevertheless, this positively doesn’t must imply that they don’t seem to be glad.
And it applies the opposite manner spherical too. Simply because the folks round you share loving gestures, love messages, and related issues every single day, it doesn’t imply that their world is basically that excellent. In brief, you’ll all the time solely see a fraction of different folks’s lives on social media, and even the little bits they give you won’t be true in any respect. Keep in mind this everytime you really feel inferior and assume that your life will not be good and fascinating sufficient in comparison with others or that you’re lacking one thing in comparison with them.
6. Don’t examine your self to others
This level is intently associated to the earlier one. You already know that others present you solely a rigorously curated fraction of their lives, so it could make no sense to check your self to them. Do you comply with individuals who personal fancy sports activities vehicles and wish one too? Then give them a like on their picture and ensure you obtain it at some point. In any case, envy alone gained’t get you there. Use others’ success as motivation to work in direction of your personal aspirations.
It’s also vital to appreciate that everybody strikes via life at a unique tempo and achieves completely different targets at completely different instances. Some persons are on the peak of their working profession of their 30s, however then they burn out and begin from scratch in a very completely different business. Another person may steadily work their manner via the obstacles and change into the highest supervisor on the age of fifty. Each are completely nice; every of us is strictly the place we’re presupposed to be. This consciousness ought to calm you down and discourage you from evaluating your life to different folks.




7. Work in your shallowness
A assured individual will not be simply swayed. They deal with their very own life and priorities, and don’t waste time worrying about folks and issues exterior of their management. In the event that they need to attend an occasion, they’ll go, however they gained’t stress over lacking out on one thing else. By engaged on themselves, they construct their self-confidence, thereby rising their general shallowness.
In case you are keen on how one can work in your self-confidence, you need to try our article The way to Construct Self-Confidence in Sports activities. You possibly can then apply the identical ideas to different areas of life.
8. Study to say NO
FOMO is pushed by the need to slot in and be part of society. However you may’t be all over the place and also you positively can’t do every thing both. The actions you interact in ought to rely in your targets. Based mostly on the priorities you set, be taught to make selections and select the alternatives you need to be round. No one can break up in two, so you actually shouldn’t fear about not being at each occasion both.
You must be taught to say NO in your work life as properly. Based on a survey of pros on LinkedIn, as many as 70% of individuals wrestle to disconnect from work even when they proactively take a while off. They’re afraid of lacking out or in any other case falling behind. Nevertheless, with such a everlasting mindset, a state of burnout is only a matter of time. Taking a whole break from work is essential to permit your psyche to relaxation, get better and put together for different challenges, each at work and past. [9]
If you wish to know extra about burnout syndrome, you shouldn’t miss our article The way to Keep away from Burnout: 8 Steps to Break Free from Poisonous Productiveness.
9. Discover out what makes you uncomfortable
To be able to keep away from issues that make you uncomfortable, you should be taught to take heed to your emotions. Solely then are you able to determine the triggers of destructive feelings. Some folks might discover it uncomfortable to observe individuals who, in contrast to them, have excellent morning routines. Others could also be bothered by individuals who consistently speak about energy or weight reduction. And another folks might really feel uncomfortable watching others having fun with their weekend festivities. Everyone seems to be completely different and has distinctive views on issues. [10]
So be careful for what makes you uncomfortable and don’t comply with the individuals who make you’re feeling this fashion. Don’t fear, you gained’t miss out on something vital. In truth, you’ll probably rid your self of any discomfort that will have arisen from following their lives. Don’t really feel pressured to say sure to each fashionable merchandise or tempting supply that seems restricted in time. Moreover, resist the urge to buy garments just because they’re on sale, particularly in the event you don’t want them. As a substitute, contemplate the larger image, together with the context of the scenario and the way it aligns along with your private philosophy and values, and think twice about whether or not or not you actually need the factor in query. You don’t need to find yourself with an house stuffed with ineffective issues, shopping for a particular vacation journey that you simply don’t actually need to go on, or agreeing to a limited-time supply that can be simply as advantageous in a month or two. Keep in mind that not every thing that shines is gold. Earlier than impulsively agreeing to one thing, it’s higher to all the time take the mandatory time to assume issues via. By making a thought-about buy, you may solely stand to realize.




What do you have to bear in mind?
Life is stuffed with alternatives and experiences, nevertheless it’s unimaginable to be all over the place or keep updated on every thing occurring round you. However that’s not what life is about. To keep away from letting life move you by, you should rigorously contemplate what you give your consideration to. By setting clear priorities, every thing ought to change into a lot simpler. Make investments your time in actions that push you in direction of your required outcomes and profit from your time and stay a satisfying life.
Sources:
[1] Aarif Alutaybi et al. – Concern of Lacking Out (FoMO) as Actually Lived: 5 Classifications and one Ecology – https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/summary/doc/8963027
[2] Aarif Alutaybi et al. – Combating Concern of Lacking Out (FoMO) on Social Media: The FoMO-R Technique – https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6128
[3] Baker, Zachary G. et al. – Concern of lacking out: Relationships with melancholy, mindfulness, and bodily signs – https://psycnet.apa.org/purchase/2016-47442-007
[4] Sainabou Cham et al. – Digital Habit: Unfavorable Life Experiences and Potential for Expertise-Assisted Options – https://hyperlink.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-16184-2_87
[5] Hugo Juárez Olguín et al. – The Function of Dopamine and Its Dysfunction as a Consequence of Oxidative Stress – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26770661/
[6] David J Nutt et al. – The dopamine concept of habit: 40 years of highs and lows – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25873042/
[7] Zhuofan Zhang et al. – Concern Of Lacking Out Scale: A self-concept perspective – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mar.21406
[8] Social Concept at HBS: McGinnis’ Two FOs – https://harbus.org/2004/social-theory-at-hbs-2749/
[9] Blair Heitmann Your Office Information to Summer season Trip – https://weblog.linkedin.com/2018/july/11/your-workplace-guide-to-summer-vacation
[10] Anushree Tandon et al. – Darkish penalties of social media-induced worry of lacking out (FoMO): Social media stalking, comparisons, and fatigue – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162521003632
[11] The way to Deal With FOMO in Your Life – https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-fomo-4174664