How To Deal With FOMO?

There is hardly any person in this world who has not felt regret and jealousy at some point in time for saying no or being unable to attend an event and later finding out that it was a hit.

It stems from the insecurity of being left out, and there is an official term for it today – FOMO or the ‘Fear Of Missing out’.

How Big A Deal Is FOMO?

The nature of FOMO makes us think we are the only ones experiencing it since the rest of the people are already enjoying themselves, right? But the truth is, the majority of people go through FOMO. Not only is FOMO widespread but it is quite serious too.

Just look at these statistics to understand how far and deep its roots run:

• FOMO strikes early, with 56% of people experiencing it as a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30.
• Social media is the main culprit on the surface. Studies show that 20% of people cannot go without checking their social media for more than 1 hour and 45% of people cannot keep their hands off social media for over 12 hours. Moreover, 27% of people will check social sites as soon as they wake up.

Another source claims that:

• People maintain more than one social media account so that they can stay connected in several social circles. At least 42% of people maintain several accounts and when you restrict the age gap between 18 and 34, the percentage leaps to 61%.
• Taking a break from social media can be difficult for people with FOMO. While 52% would think about leaving social media for a while, only 24% would actually end up committing to that resolution.

So, Why Do People Have FOMO?

There are some very basic reasons why FOMO has become so widespread. I Got U believes that underlying depression and anxiety can show up in the modern world as FOMO syndrome. However, some of the other common reasons are listed below:-

• People tend to suffer from a high level of personal unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
• The modern economy pits people against each other, giving rise to unhealthy competition.
• The corporate world is a cutthroat race and 14% of people fear that missing an event will push them several steps back in their career or status.
• Most marketing techniques use FOMO and create fake scarcity to increase sales.
• The currency of social stature is gauged using a person’s presence, involvement, expenditure, and engagement. 36% of people are driven by the fear of being considered pariahs and 56% of people fear falling out of the loop if they miss important updates on social media.
• Social media also creates a highly simulated version of people’s lives in others’ minds that leaves out the unpleasant parts.
• In a response to FOMO, many people (40%) will then stretch their limits to show something off too, which, in turn, will create FOMO in others.
• Many people spend too much time or money to keep up because they do not want to lose their friends (26%), be judged (23%), or be left out (41%).

Healthy Ways To Cope With FOMO

If you have a hard time telling yourself not to regret or envy people who were part of something you missed, then you definitely suffer from FOMO. Identifying the problem is half the work done. The other half can be managed using these tips:

• Use replacement thoughts. You might need a journal for this. Every time you detect negative FOMO-related feelings, write them down. Then, find a positive thing that came out of the situation, note it, and feel thankful and happy for it.
• Restrict your social media time. Set a limit and stick to it. There are even apps to help you with that. Reward yourself when you succeed in your goal.
• Drill the reality into your mind. One, you only see a rosy, partial picture on social sites. Therefore, you should not compare your life with that. Two, it is impossible for one person to be present everywhere. So like all people, you will miss out on many things in life. So, it is better to focus on the ones you did attend.
• Focus on the good and be thankful. This is the best way to dispel negative thoughts and become truly happy.
• Find inner happiness and self-kindness. It sounds cliched but is true. You have to look for happiness within and be kind to yourself instead of feeling guilty for missing out.
• Enjoy the moment. When the experience matters more than the goal of gaining likes, you learn to appreciate what you have.

However, if you still get the feeling that you are unable to handle the symptoms of FOMO by yourself, do not feel scared or worried. You always have the option of seeking out professional help. You can easily book a session with I Got U and we will help you out.