We have all heard of F.O.M.O. and most people can admit to having felt the pangs of stress that come up when you think that you are going to be unable to make it to that one social event. However, as University students, we have to juggle our classes, studying, jobs, social lives, family, friends, relationships, and sometimes there are simply not enough hours in the day for it all. Our first priority as students should always be our physical and mental health, but our academics are not something that can be avoided. We have compiled a list of ways to alleviate the fear of missing out.
The first step to alleviating F.O.M.O is to recognize that it is caused by perceptions, such as social media or word of mouth. When you hear that someone is doing something that they describe as amazing, of course you want in on it. If someone posts about their fantastic night out at the bar, you might immediately begin to feel the anxiety creep in that you stayed at home to study while everyone else went out at had fun. STOP. Recognize that people tend to only share the best, most desirable parts of their lives and experiences socially.
Remember that there are only 24 hours in a day and that you are only human. If you have class in the morning, work in the afternoon, and an ice-cream date planned with your significant other in the evening, and you have a midterm the next week, realize that it does not make you a bad person to politely decline when your friends text you to come out for Thursday night wine.
Prioritization and time management are key, but they do not work if you do not stick to it. While it is important to have balance and to treat yourself, it is also essential that what needs to be done, is actually done! Decide what is truly necessary and make time for those things! If you have time left over, awesome, plan to attend a social event. If you do not have time left over, do not set aside something important for something fleeting.
Ask yourself what you have to gain from an experience. Do you want to go out so that you can take a cute picture to post on your Instagram, or do you want to go try out a new restaurant, see your favourite band, or spend time with someone who is truly important to you?
Practice active gratitude. Be grateful that you get to be a student at an amazing university. Be grateful that you are strong and independent enough to prioritize and put first things first. Tell those around you that you appreciate them and that you are grateful that they understand that you cannot attend every event. If you spend more time being grateful for the people, things, and experiences that you have in your life, you will spend less time wishing for more, and focusing on what you do not have.