FOMO can happen to anyone and it was a regular visitor in my life back when I am not aware of what it is – it’s just a feeling that I can regard as jealousy, overwhelming feeling of not being enough or feeling left out when good things happen to other people.  The nagging feeling is not positive and I started to feel like everyone is getting on with their lives except for me.

If you’re experiencing this, know that while it can go downhill from here, it also within your control to not let it be. What’s better is that this can inspire you in a positive way. “Fear of missing out” -however “normal” it might seem in this social media world- can be managed and these are few strategies I do to deal with mine.

1.Imagine yourself in the same situation

The first thing I do is imagine myself in their situation while considering my current life circumstances. Would I enjoy that weekend vacation when I know I cannot afford it yet? Is that promotion something I aimed for or did I set a different path for myself? Am I matured enough to handle a serious relationship right now? These questions usually would reflect that you are your own self and have to set all these things for your own and not in comparison to other people’s lives. This may also reveal the things you desire, if you are on the right track or if you need to change your mindset.

2. Revisit your goals

When was the last time you set your goal or review them? I have spent many years establishing New Year goals and end up not reaching them. What achievers usually do is set clear , SMART goals and make sure they see them everyday – every time. This helps them focus on what they want and cannot be easily influenced by other people’s perfect reels. They are writing their own story and would reach their plans according to the time they have set – not bothered by trends or pressured by other people’s achievements. We can find time to revisit the goals we set or set them if there’s none yet so we can picture out our own path.

3. Manage your expectations

 If we have too much, uncontrolled expectations , we are bound for disappointments. There are too many things in life that are out of our control and it is important that we know what they are. If majority of our time is spent thinking about what others think and what mask we should wear for the world to see, we are just setting ourselves for unnecessary heartaches. When I feel FOMO syptoms, I catch my thoughts , step back and observe if I am being rational or if I’m overthinking about things that are out of my control. Usually, this makes me realize that I am capable of working on things I have influence over and that I can let go of things that I cannot change. This teaches me humility and to be accepting of things that are not within my reach.

4. Check your habits

We all have habits. Most importantly, we have thinking habits. Accumulation of these actions and thinking repeated everyday will compound and result to either a happy or a life lived in despair. While being grateful, showing up, and keeping a positive attitude leads us to success, the opposite yields opposite results. Negative thinking would lead to negative actions and we will eventually reap negativity. When I check my habits, especially the way I think, I always find out that the culprit behind my FOMO are habits left unchecked or negative feelings or perspectives I left unresolved.  

Tip: Are you part of the majority who spends too much time in Social Media? Maybe a detox is what you need. You can spend this time on other things like getting off the grid, resetting your habits, or revisiting your goals- whatever you think is helpful for you to be reminded of the more important things in life.

5. Talk it out

 If I feel the FOMO, sometimes it is because I am surrounded by people imposing their opinions on how I should live my life. These people maybe really concerned and think that we should have better branded shoes or travel more often. However, if you are surrounded by people reminding you of what you cannot do just so they can validate how they live their lives or spend their resources, know that you deserve a lot better than that. Limiting yourself from this exposure is a form of self-love. It is a smart choice to surround yourself with people who respect your values. Once you have the right people, you might find someone whom you can trust with what you feel. I am grateful to have a wonderful husband whom I can always share what I feel especially if it gets overwhelming. You can also find one in a family member, a friend, or through writing in your journal. 

Let me take this moment for us to be reminded that like many ingrained habits, these changes are best done through slow meaningful progress. Be kind to yourself and be grateful that you have a chance to work on becoming a better version of yourself and live a happier life. 🙂

Do you have other strategies you think could be helpful? Please share in the comments section. You may also share this post to someone you love who you think can benefit from this information.

All the love,
Ada