All You Need To Know About FOMO (The fear of missing out)

0 0

What is FOMO?

The fear of missing out refers to the feeling or perception that others are having more fun, living better lives, or experiencing better things than you are. This involves a deep sense of envy which affects self-esteem. Social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, often exacerbate it. It is the feeling that you are missing out on something fundamentally important that others are experiencing right now. It can apply to anything from a party on a Friday night to a promotion at work, but it always involves a sense of helplessness that you are missing out on something big.

Brief history of FOMO

The idea that you might be missing out on a good time is not new to our era. However, while it has presumably been around for centuries (you can see evidence of FOMO in ancient texts); it has only been studied during the past few decades, beginning with a 1996 research paper by marketing strategist, Dr. Dan Herman, who coined the term “fear of missing out”. Since the advent of social media, however, FOMO has become more obvious and has been studied more often. Social media ha accelerated the FOMO phenomenon in several ways.

How does FOMO affect us?

In recent years, the instantaneous window that the social media provides into the lives of others has taken FOMO to an all-time high. Studies show that FOMO leads to extreme dissatisfaction and has a detrimental effect on our physical and mental health – mood swings, loneliness, feelings of inferiority, reduced self-esteem, extreme social anxiety, and increased levels of negativity and depression. It in not surprising that the use of anti-depressants has risen sharply in recent years due to FOMO.

How to overcome FOMO?

Keeping a Journal. Keeping a journal can help you to shift your focus from public approval to private appreciation of the things that make your life great.

Seek Out Real Connections. Rather than trying to connect more with people on social media, why not arrange to meet up with someone in person?

Focus on Gratitude. Simply telling other what you appreciate about them can lift your spirits as well as those of everyone around you.

Rather than focusing on what you lack, try noticing what you have.