How to Overcome FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
Do you ever feel like you're missing out on something important? Maybe it's improving your AI or investment knowledge, building a personal brand, traveling more, starting a family, or something else entirely. Social media has a way of underlining the importance of all these things and can easily trigger the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). It's easy to feel like you're not doing enough or that you're not living up to your full potential.
How to identify FOMO
Identifying FOMO can be tricky, but there are some common signs to look out for. One of the most common signs is feeling anxious or restless when you're not checking your phone or social media accounts. You may also find yourself constantly comparing your life to others and feeling like you're not doing enough. Another sign of FOMO is constantly saying yes to things, even if you don't really want to do them, because you're afraid of missing out on something. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to take a step back and evaluate what's really important to you.
How to overcome FOMO
As someone who has struggled with FOMO in the past, I can tell you that it's not a pleasant feeling. However, I've learned that it's possible to change your mindset and find happiness right where you are. Here are some tips that have helped me eliminate my Fear of Missing Out:
1. Define Your Vision of Happiness
The first step in eliminating FOMO is to define your vision of happiness. What does happiness look like to you? What do you need to reach it? It's important to have a clear understanding of what you want out of life, so you can focus on your own goals and what you want to accomplish. Some of the things you see around on social media might sound cool, but it doesn't mean you need or even want to do the same. By defining your vision of happiness, you'll be able to focus on what matters most to you and not get sidetracked by what others are doing.
2. Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is another effective way to combat FOMO. Instead of focusing on what you're missing out on, try to focus on what you already have. Take some time each day to reflect on the things in your life that you're grateful for, whether it's your family, friends, job, or hobbies. By doing this, you'll start to appreciate the present moment and feel more content with what you have. A good starting point for me is thinking about where I was few years ago and where I am now.
3. Set Realistic Expectations
It's easy to feel like you're missing out when you have unrealistic expectations for what you should be doing or achieving. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your own goals and what you want to accomplish. By setting realistic expectations, you'll feel more in control of your life and less anxious about what others are doing. I'm not saying to not dream big, but rather be realistic with the timeline and what it would actually require to get there.
4. Disconnect from Social Media
Social media can be a major trigger for FOMO. It's easy to get caught up scrolling reels or TikTok and start comparing your life to others. Taking a break from social media can help you gain perspective and focus on what's truly important to you. If you find it hard to completely disconnect, try limiting your social media use to certain times of the day or specific platforms that you find most helpful. What also helped me was removing social media notifications and introducing a fixed daily interval with my phone on airplane mode (mostly during nights).
5. Join a Retreat
If you find it hard to fight FOMO on your own, consider joining a retreat where you can focus entirely on yourself, disconnect from daily life (and social media), find like-minded people with whom you can share your struggles, and receive advice. The upcoming Jungle Retreats are a great opportunity for defining your life priorities and learning how to eliminate FOMO and anxiety from your life.
Overcoming FOMO is not something that can be achieved overnight. Take it step by step, day by day, don't put too much pressure on yourself and I'm sure you will make it! Kicking out FOMO from your life is all about changing your mindset and focusing on what's truly important to you. Don't be embarrassed to admit you're suffering from FOMO or afraid to seek help and guidance. There are more people around than you can imagine that are going or went through the same. Jungle Retreats community is always here to support, so don't hesitate to reach out!