FOMO is a deep feeling that you are missing out on something very important that others are experiencing - from a vacation to a personal accolade. As a result, your self-esteem can be affected because you feel like you are not living a rewarding or exciting life, often due to unreasonable expectations and comparisons.
To fix FOMO, here are a few tips:
- To get to the root of your FOMO, it's important to look at what is causing dissatisfaction, anxiety or unhappiness with your life. Often times, FOMO occurs when you are feeling lonely, depressed or anxious. Using social media can make you feel worse if there is a problem in your life that needs addressing.
- When you feel overwhelmed with social media, change your feed so you see less of what triggers your FOMO and instead, make note of what you have and what makes you feel good about yourself - not what you lack.
- Find a different outlet to record the highlights of your life. A private social media page for close friends and family, a journal or blog may help shift your focus from public approval to personal appreciation to the important things in your life.
- Enjoy the JOMO - Joy of missing out. Instead of stressing about what you may be missing out on, find happiness in your own life and with your personal decisions of how you are choosing to live your life.
- Write down a few things that you are grateful for every day to help increase your life satisfaction, happiness and well-being.|
- Focus on the experience, not the image. A feeling of fun, freedom, connection, accomplishment or adventure is more gratifying than a picture of a material object or body image. And don't forget, it's OK to not have it all. Recognize what is truly important to you and strengthen the quality of your life experiences.