Your advisor said you are going to represent your RSO at a business conference being held this weekend. He said there is no one else available and you’re the only one for the job. You can’t say no and this is kind of serious. But it’s a total buzz kill to your prior arrangements for the weekend. All of a sudden your friends have an epic game plan that doesn’t involve you. Sweet.
I’m about to diagnose you with a serious case of FOMO.
Play it cool, play it down – but admit you’ve experienced the fear of missing out. We’ve all been there. You promised your mom you would come home this weekend to go apple picking. Oh yeah, and there’s a day drink at the Townhouses. You should study for your 8 a.m. exam but your roommates are hitting up $5 Tuesdays to watch the 3D One Direction movie. You’re obsessed with Harry Styles. Your schedule doesn’t allow you to go abroad, but your best friend is leaving next semester for London. While these decisions don’t seem hard, and you often know the right thing to do, FOMO can consume you. Somehow, all you can think about is how much you’ll be missing out. You think the world is out to get you.
As college students we often find ourselves driving in the fast lane. We have a lot going on and are always looking to spend our free time as efficiently as possible. We stay updated via social networks, text messaging, and phone calls. We know exactly where our friends are at any given moment. It’s weird and stalker-ish but socially acceptable nonetheless.
Look, I get it. You don’t want to miss out on (fill in the blank) because you’ll have one less Instagram picture than you should. Your friends will be talking about it all week and you’ll have nothing to say. Your friendships are in jeopardy. This is a massive problem. A huge setback. You’re missing out and there is nothing worse than that. You need to be there.
Am I right?
Absolutely not. While the fear of missing out is natural, if FOMO is hittin’ you hard and you’re wondering where your sanity is, you may need to take a step back. Hyperventilating over a missed party or gathering will make you feel pathetic. Remembering and acknowledging your individuality is extremely important in college. We’re supposed to be growing up. We need to learn how to do things on our own and dare I say it, miss the rager this one time.
FOMO is all about your mentality. Of course missing out on something with your best friends is a hard pill to swallow. But so is being dependent on certain people for fun. Instead of banging your head against the wall refreshing your friends’ Twitter and Facebook pages, figure out something positive you can take from your alternate plans.
Looking forward and keeping an open mind can create opportunities that you would never have seen coming otherwise. And while you were kickin’ butt and taking initiative on your future career, one friend spent the night head-in-toilet while the other cleaned her up. So, what was that about missing out?