With summer just around the corner, it’s a great time to kick back and relax. However, seeing everyone on social media enjoying their summer breaks can also bring about feelings of anxiety and negativity from the idea of being left out and like you’re not experiencing spring/summer break to the fullest. These feelings are often attributed to FOMO.
FOMO is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as the “fear of missing out” (yes, it’s now a real dictionary term. I didn’t believe it at first either). I’m sure you’ve experienced FOMO at least once–imagine you’re sitting at home, scrolling through Instagram, and then coming across a friend’s gorgeous bikini pic from the beach or them standing in front of the Eiffel Tower as they backpack through Europe. All of a sudden, a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety rushes through you as you think, “I wish I could be there too.” You start feeling bad about your own vacation as various negative thoughts begin to fill your head. Even though it may seem dumb that you’re thinking this way, it’s important to understand that FOMO is a completely normal experience. However, if your FOMO is getting especially bad, there are a few ways to help alleviate these negative feelings and prevent them from ruining your own summer vacay:
1. Turn your fomo into jomo.
A recent term that I discovered when researching FOMO, JOMO is defined as the “joy of missing out.” Instead of feeling negatively about your decisions for the summer, try to turn your thinking around and embrace your decisions. After all, this is your summer break, not anyone else’s.
2. Ground Yourself.
Most often, the feelings associated with FOMO aren’t too extreme. However, if you find yourself hyperfixating on that one Instagram photo, take a moment to ground yourself. My favorite technique is to stop, put down your phone, and look around. Then, challenge yourself to identify one thing around you from every one of the five senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. This can be a great way to ground yourself in the present and pull yourself away from whatever is causing you anxiety.
3. write some affirmations.
FOMO happens most easily when we don’t feel confident about our current situation. To help counteract this, write down some affirmations to help put yourself in a better mindset. It’s extremely important to remind yourself not to compare your experiences to others, and that your summer break plans are just as valid. Here’s a great Her Campus article if you’re looking for some affirmation examples or inspiration.
4. limit your social media time.
While it may be addicting to keep scrolling through your friends’ vacation stories, it’s important to recognize when it’s causing your mental health more harm than good. If you find this to be the case, maybe taking a step back from social media is the best decision. That way, you can focus more on yourself and not worry about what others are doing.
5. remind yourself of the reality of social media.
Social media is just a highlight reel. It cuts out all of the bad moments and only focuses on the good ones. While someone may look like they’re having the best summer vacation in the world from their profile, this may not be the reality. Again, remind yourself that what you’re seeing is just a small snippet of an entire summer.
Even if you don’t have any huge travel plans for the summer, it’s important to still practice gratitude for your own experiences. The best way to beat FOMO is to value the time you do have and live presently in the moment. This can be easier said than done, but if you practice in baby steps, little by little you might find yourself having a more positive mindset.