Fending Off FOMO

Being mostly constrained to the indoors owing to the lockdowns and yet getting the whole picture of the world outside thanks to the advantages offered by social media is a recipe for resentment. But despite the fact that a new reality and its implications are still sinking in, there are effective ways to swat FOMO down whenever it raises its head.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is considered to be a persistent feeling of worry that occurs when we believe that other people have more rewarding experiences than we do. Whenever we're scrolling down our Instagram pages and see pictures of our friends or friends of friends engaging in some fun activity, we feel a small pang of annoyance and envy. Why weren't we invited? Why doesn't life have just as much to offer us too? How is it possible that everyone else around is doing something exciting and fulfilling while we're stuck home doing stuff that's just run of the mill? They must be so much happier than we are. While there were only social restrictions that were holding us back from joining the club, the status quo amplifies this nagging thought in our minds even further.

As is usually the case, these maladaptive mindsets that hinder us from maintaining a positive state of mind can be remedied by making a few alterations to how we frame and evaluate our cognitions. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds. The first thing that we must look to address is whether we're content with our goal management. If we're feeling inadequate regarding the number of ticks our own checklist, the urge to glance over and sneak a peak at the lists of others grows. Ensuring that the goals that we've created for ourselves are realistic, structured, and paced well greatly aids in drawing away excessive attention from the supposedly glamorous and glorious lives of everyone else.

The next bit is to modify our evaluations of the events and individuals that we're allowed to collect a tiny glimpse into, as well as reflect on the evaluations that we gauge concerning ourselves as well. We must remember that JPEG and GIFs that we like on the Internet and ten minute conversations with our acquaintances don't really offer any substantial insight into their state of mind or level of happiness, even if our heads really, really would like to believe that such is the case. This is not to downplay real and lively experiences of our friends and loved ones, but merely the truth that that peeking through a keyhole into their lives is hardly anything to get anxious about missing out on. It is quite possible that we're capable of having a great time too, if only we allow ourselves to shift our perspectives on our own experiences and note the positives of what we have. 

The grass is always greener on the other side, but perhaps less so if we choose to tend to our own gardens.

- Nikhil