Different Ways to Turn FOMO into JOMO

In the battle of FOMO vs JOMO, it's the right time to reveal the winner. Let's help those who need to know what conflict is going on or what these terms stand for. FOMO is the fear of missing out, and JOMO is the joy of missing out. These two terms have sparred in our social brain for eternity. But today, Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok have brought the whole skirmish to a new level.

We are grateful to technology for providing a tap button on our phones to book a ride or order a meal. But what are we supposed to do when that same device is beaming image after image of our high school enviable weekend into our brain while our messaging app remains silent? The only solution is to silence the FOMO and embrace the JOMO.

The Danger of FOMO

In other ways, fear of missing out is an advanced version of 'keeping up with the Jones,' says Cathy Sullivan-Windt. "With FOMO, an individual's eye is set on what other people are doing, rather than being present where one currently is."

You might have noticed ubiquitous signs of FOMO. Just look around. We see people checking their cell phones continuously and being distracted. They're worried that they will probably miss out on an experience or information if they don't keep looking at their phones.

It's quite a deep-seated urge, but when you go in-depth, you understand the problem. FOMO is often known as social comparison. And this isn't a new topic. While we may have the latest tools to check others' lives, science tells us what we have been comparing ourselves to others.

The barrage of updates guiding fancy trips, professional achievements, and beaming children can damage your sense of accomplishment and well-being. Any situation where you feel less than compared to someone has the potential to invoke insecurity, according to Sullivan-Windt. With social media, we're primed to notice what's wrong and why we're not keeping up.

"In small doses, FOMO can be helpful if it encourages someone to do something that is satisfying for them," says Sullivan-Windt. One important difference is whether you're scared of missing out on something or really missing out on something. What do you do? If missing out triggers you to act, it can become a catalyst to meet new people, connect with other professionals, and get out of your comfort zone.

How to Turn FOMO into JOMO?

As FOMO became a widespread term, JOMO began to emerge as a topic of discussion. "JOMO is for all introverts-- the joy of missing out. When you cancel plans and be a member of Bachelor Nation as a party of one, you're engaging with JOMO," says Cook.

But JOMO goes more seriously than selecting a distraction from your regular social media messages. It's a change in mindset that can be highly effective. "JOMO is the pleasure one feels in the current moment, with acceptance of what an individual doesn't have at that moment," says Sullivan-Windt.

It's not mainly about feeling pleasure all the time, so much as being in the present moment and grateful for what is occurring. Both are entirely associated with well-being. "As anxiety increases in the US, it becomes necessary to learn to be in the moment, rather than where one's head might be (i.e., considering the past, dwelling on what other people are doing, or predicting the future)," says Windt.

"Given how social media promotes comparisons, I suggest clients take a break from social media or be deliberate in how and how much they engage with it. Without the distraction of social media, it is much easier to enjoy the private time," Sullivan-Windt.

If you're having difficulty letting go of the feeling of obligation even if you unplug, Cook motivates you to "play the tape." It seems like this: ask yourself, "How would you feel if you stayed in? If you went out?" Envisioning how you would feel can be a valuable indicator of when you need to lean in or out.

Another significant way to practice is to experiment with it. Notice how it feels to stay at home while choosing to go out. While your mood will likely decide what you want to do, the key is to tune in to what you want to do. Take the pressure off from what you think you should do and instead go with your gut," says Cook.

Different Habits that Increase JOMO

Are you learning to value your gut feeling instead of feeling sick to your stomach? That's how we want to spend 2023. Follow the below imperative tips to build your blueprint for JOMO:

Use Your Senses

Concentrating on our senses, such as the sound of the ocean lapping up on the shore, the smell of the aloe vera sunblock, the feel of the sun warming our body, and the view of the boat in the picture assures that we are living in the present. It is a meditation 101 type of thinking. So, maybe you're not on the beautiful beach, but you can still notice the pleasant things around you.

Stop Multitasking

When cleaning the kitchen, only concentrate on what you're up to. Just wash the dishes; be present without phone calls, music, or podcasts to distract your attention. Inhal, Exhale

Take four deep breaths and focus on your breath. If you are genuinely concentrated on your breath, there is nowhere else for your mind to go.

Practice Gratitude

Taking some time to notice all things around you can be grateful. It enables us to concentrate on what 'is' rather than what 'could be.

Give Yourself Time

You have to give yourself three mindful minutes every day. That's all it takes. You can go for meditation apps to practice guided meditation.

Ground Yourself

You might have heard this if you have ever suffered from anxiety. The texture of the chair you're sitting in, how it feels to note the texture of your hands, and sensing the shoes on your feet bring you into your present physical experience.

Look into Someone's Eyes

We infrequently look one another in the eyes when we're having conversations. Slow down and fall into eye contact with someone. Notice how it slows down the rapidity of life.