“You can do anything, but not everything,” David Allen stated in his book “Getting Things Done.”
With limited time and so many opportunities, it can be hard to decide what takes priority. Study blocks, social time, jobs and extracurriculars are all a part of the average college student’s life — but the fear of missing out, a.k.a. “FOMO,” makes discipline difficult to attend to.
Someone always seems to be having more fun than you, being more productive than you or worst of all, doing something not including you.
The pressure is on to study hard and achieve as much as you can while enjoying the “best years of your life.” Bouts of FOMO can cause you to question if you’re doing it right and living up to your full potential.
FOMO is a common phenomenon among adolescents, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
This sounds a lot like doom-scrolling or hearing your floormates laughing obnoxiously while you grovel over a homework assignment.
FOMO tends to appear when you feel unhappy or suffer from low self-esteem, according to the Cleveland Clinic article. Resulting symptoms of anxiety and depression can worsen when the alternatives to having fun are school, work or other obligatory tasks, according to the article.
Social media bombards us with constant updates on family and friends, in addition to people all over the world; Increased usage is linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to an Oct. 10, 2022 National Library of Medicine study.
It’s a dangerous path I’m sure many of us have fallen victim to. You feel anxious and bored, you check social media, see your peers having fun without you and you experience FOMO.
FOMO can run rampant in students’ minds and cause them to question their worth and belonging. But it may help you to know that many are struggling with the same ailment.
Try these tactics next time FOMO tries to drag you away from living your most authentic life.
Identify what you value and what fills your bucket to help develop your sense of self.
Recognize what matters to you and integrate intention into your life. This can reduce the need to seek external validation in your peers’ endeavors.
Consider the joy of missing out. JOMO is an alternative to fear, rooted in peace and intention.
By managing your time wisely and spending it based on your own authentic reasons, JOMO can be more pleasurable than someone else’s fabricated fun.
This requires setting boundaries and choosing to participate in activities that help you fulfill your purpose. Limiting social media use can help you stay focused on your personal accomplishments and avoid distractions.
Remaining disciplined and intentional can help you achieve your “anything” and help avoid the distraction of “everything.”
As Valentine’s Day draws near, it may feel like a failure to not be in the relationship of your dreams. But before you get down on yourself for not having it all “locked in,” take a moment to reflect.
Remember that many people share the fear of missing out and you’re not alone. Fill yourself up and take pride in your priorities. Fear not — the fun will always be there when you are ready.
