Counteracting F.O.M.O by J.O.M.O

 

FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE MISSED,

YOU HAVE GAINED SOMETHING ELSE - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 

Have you ever had a feeling that you are being left out from experiences that might be important to you and your self-growth or have consuming feeling that others might be having more fun and better experiences as compared to you? That my friend is Fomo.

 Fomo is acronym for Fear of Missing Out. We all have gone through this experience once .Fomo is Psychological Phenomenon of comparing oneself to others. It’s linked to our Ancestral Heirloom, as Humans we always had a want and need for better and fulfilling things in life. Now with the advent of Social Media and its Digital Penetration this comparison has even increased.

Social media Platforms tend to portray people at their best, divulging in new activities and committing to new experiences .This may create a unrealistic image and social expectation which will eventually lead to social comparison. Portraying false image to their Viewers.

Term FOMO was coined by Author Patrick J .McGinnis and popularised it in 2002op-ed in the Harbus, The Magazine of Harvard Business School. Fomo has been extensively used in marketing by Ecommerce Companies. Many ecommerce sites use email, push notifications intensively to reinstate this feeling of FOMO in buyer. Site owners use these email and push notifications to remind people of products and pages they viewed or visited in past, and encourage them to buy by showing limited stock or a campaign deadline ,It is quite likely that people will buy that product under the influence of Fomo.

How to counteract FOMO by JOMO

·         FOMO’s opposite JOMO -Joy of Missing Out was coined by Anil dash a blogger and CEO of Software Company, Glitch He describes the joyous feeling of deciding to skip an event in order to enjoy a quite night with family. JOMO is the way forward it’s important to be content and stay and embrace some me time focussing on things you know bring you piece and joy it can be anything watching Film, Meditation, Cooking .Whatever allows you to Disconnect and Nurture yourself.

·         Changing focus to what is present in life instead of what is lacking. This could include modifying social media sites so more positives Feeds appear in that generate happiness

·         Keeping a journal of fun memories and experiences instead of posting everything on Social Media it shifts the focus away from Public Validation to Private Admiration.

·         Keeping a gratitude journal can also shift focus towards the good things in life.it also makes it harder to feel dissatisfied and makes realization that life is already full of great things.

·         Seeking out Real connection with people face to face rather than connecting to them digitally making Plans with Friends getting out of the house can reduce a feeling of missing out. Sending a direct message to friend instead of public post can also create a positive, intimate interaction that will increase feelings of connection and decrease FOMO.