At this point, everyone understands FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out. Social Media definitely has something to do with this. Seeing peers leading extravagant, excessively social lives can impact our health and the way we see ourselves. Remember, people only post what they want you to see. People’s Instagram feed is a hand-picked curation of what they want to show you. Well, I am here to tell you why you should Embrace JOMO. JOMO is the emotionally intelligent equivalent of knowing where you are, and embracing that. The Joy of Missing Out will help you invest in yourself and allow you to build happiness in your alone time.
Do you like ME time?
Your YOU time should really be you time. We shouldn’t look externally to find happiness for example on Instagram or Facebook. Being mindful of where you and your thoughts are will help you create joyful moments. JOMO does not mean quarantining yourself from friends and family. It just means that it is healthy to take breaks to connect with yourself. Prioritize yourself to make yourself happy. You definitely don’t want to be lonely. At the same time, nothing beats soaking in a hot bath with a good book and maybe a relaxing cup of tea, and sometimes that sounds a little better than a night out with the besties.
Try to embrace JOMO — learn to say NO!
Are all your girlfriends begging you to get a casual Sunday night drink to prep for the oncoming work week? But do you know that you come down with a case of the Sunday Scaries at the end of the weekend? Though the night out with the girls sounds tempting, knowing yourself and your healthy habits are more important. Saying NO takes lots of practice. But it is important to remember that real friends always know that it is important to respect yourself through spending time alone.
It never is just that easy though. If you find yourself unable to decline fun plans, despite the fact that you set aside some overdue alone time, practice declining invitations that don’t align with your beliefs.
So the long and short of it is if social media is affecting your happiness, invest in JOMO, create boundaries and savour your time on your own.
