It’s often amplified by social media and the constant visibility of others’ lives. Keeping a the ultimate guide to bitcoin forks gratitude journal or reflecting daily on what you’re thankful for can shift your focus from what you lack to what you have. This simple practice can improve your overall outlook and reduce feelings of inadequacy. When you’re preoccupied with what others might be doing, it’s hard to focus on your own experiences and appreciate the moment. This distraction can detract from your ability to fully enjoy relationships, hobbies, or personal achievements. Constantly comparing your experiences to the curated highlights of others’ lives can create a distorted sense of reality, leading you to feel like your achievements or lifestyle aren’t good enough.

Fear of missing out

JOMO is about making conscious choices about how we spend our time and energy. It’s about recognizing that we can’t do everything, and that’s okay. By embracing JOMO, we can free ourselves from the constant pressure to keep up and instead focus on what truly brings us joy and fulfillment. Younger generations, particularly millennials and Gen Z, often bear the brunt of FOMO. Cultivating gratitude and contentment is another powerful antidote to FOMO. By regularly practicing gratitude – perhaps through journaling or meditation – we can shift our focus from what we lack to what we have.

People would often be looking for better opportunities, or options, for activities that they were currently engaged in. Therapy also provides a space to explore self-esteem and self-worth. Many people who struggle with FOMO have underlying insecurities that make them vulnerable to feelings of inadequacy.

Private Social Media

The human brain constantly works to prevent us from getting into ‘trouble’. Human beings have an intrinsic need to belong to a community or a person. We seek hope, love, and meaning in communities and social interactions. Your current experience of eating at home may feel less interesting than your friend’s post. Suppose you feel down on yourself because you aren’t having as much fun or success as others. In that case, you’ve likely been making unhealthy comparisons between yourself and others, an effect of FOMO.

  • Therapy also provides a space to explore self-esteem and self-worth.
  • Basically, it’s a recipe for indecision and “analysis paralysis” as people draw out the process of making choices and hesitate to commit.
  • Alternatively, social media can be used as a de facto salve for those who intensely fear missing out, as they might feel it is a low-risk way to connect with others and to keep tabs on their activities.
  • It isn’t exclusively a “youth” phenomena, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use FOMO to describe “serious,” non-social situations.
  • This can manifest itself in various ways, from distractions during studying to the choice of course or university based on peers’ choices rather than personal interest or aptitude.

This can create unrealistic expectations of what our own relationships should be like. When our relationships do not meet these expectations, it can lead to feelings of disappointment and FOMO. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok show filtered versions of reality.

We can be motivated to avoid or diminish the possibility of losing out on something that we perceive as better than important update on xrp crypto our current situation by any means necessary, even at our own expense. While spying on your neighbours is not new, the fear of missing out has become a definable psychological phenomenon in recent years, mostly owing to social media. You may find yourself spending too much time checking social media, responding to messages, or going to events because you want to be included. You might constantly seek validation from those around you, or feel paranoid that you’re being excluded from events or groups.

What Does FOMO Feel Like?

In today’s hyperconnected world, FOMO has become a common phenomenon, fueled by social media and the constant visibility of other people’s curated lives. A study conducted by the California State University found that students with high levels of FOMO were more likely to use their phones during lectures, negatively impacting their academic performance. The constant need to check social media updates, respond to messages, or browse the internet for fear of missing out on something exciting or important can lead to reduced focus and concentration. This can significantly affect students’ ability to absorb and retain information, leading to lower academic performance.

Poor Decision-making

This reliance can increase their FOMO, as they constantly compare their offline lives to the online highlights of others. This also puts them in a state of conflict, where they find it hard to reach out to people in real life yet start developing desires for connection due to what they observe online. FOMO stands for “Fear of Missing Out.” It is a psychological phenomenon marked by the fear of missing out on a supposedly positive experience, rare purchase, or investment opportunity. This fear often leads to feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and inadequacy. FOMO can also have a two-way relationship with other negative feelings, such as boredom and loneliness. If you’re feeling lonely, or bored by a task at work or school, for example, it can amplify your feelings of FOMO.

  • With self-awareness, support, and resilience, we can overcome the fear of missing out and cultivate a sense of fulfillment, connection, and joy in our lives.
  • Or it can manifest as an urge to compulsively check your phone for notifications and updates.
  • These feelings of constant worry, apprehension, and second-guessing decisions could be described as fear of missing out — aka, FOMO.
  • For example, skipping a crowded event to relax at home with a book.

If at any point any of these symptoms become increasingly disruptive, it’s important that you ask for help. Clinical health psychologist Amy Sullivan, PsyD, breaks down all the nuances of FOMO and shares advice for how to avoid it or how to manage it when it inevitably creeps what is a crypto wallet up. You’re late-night scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, and suddenly, you stumble on a series of photos or videos of your friends or family having fun without you. In Duanju format fiction, the use of techniques such as cliffhangers can heighten the feeling of FOMO by maintaining strong anticipation between episodes51. You may be able to stop the anxiety with changes to your habits and your mindset. Some people handle this on their own, while others benefit from the help of a therapist.

When you live in alignment with your values, FOMO has less power over you. By recognizing the mental health effects of FOMO, you can take steps to manage its impact and refocus your energy on what truly matters to you. FOMO is also tied to loss aversion, a psychological principle that highlights how people tend to fear losing out on opportunities more than they value gaining something new.

Below is a detailed glossary-style explanation of FOMO, its causes, effects, and ways to manage it—all in simple English. With a deep dive into the psychological aspect of FOMO, it’s crucial to address its role in mental health. The fear of missing out can harbor stress, anxiety, and in severe cases, lead to depression.

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Cognitive restructuring techniques, often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be incredibly effective in combating FOMO. These techniques involve identifying and challenging the negative thought patterns that fuel our fear of missing out. By reframing our thoughts in a more realistic and positive light, we can gradually change our emotional responses to triggers of FOMO. It’s that feeling you get when all of your friends are out doing things without you. One synonym for FOMO is “keeping up with the Joneses.” This phrase refers to the drive to outdo one’s peers or neighbors in terms of social status, accomplishments, or material possessions.

The term “FOMO” was coined in 2004 by Patrick J. McGinnis, a Harvard Business School student at the time. Humans have always been social creatures, hardwired to seek connection and belonging. What’s changed is the intensity and frequency with which we now experience this fear, thanks to the constant barrage of information and social updates we receive through our devices. Rage is a term to describe the intense feelings of anger, resentment, or frustration that can arise as a result of experiencing FOMO or other related terms. Rage can be directed towards oneself for missing out or towards others when comparing oneself to their perceived social or personal successes.

Common examples include feeling anxious about not attending social events, gatherings, or staying updated with the latest gossip or news. Brands and marketers also contribute to the pervasive FOMO culture through their advertising strategies. Flash sales, exclusive offers, and limited-time promotions may induce a sense of urgency in consumers, who fear missing out on a good deal or a popular product.