FOMO stands for "Fear of Missing Out". This is the fear of missing out on a social event, such as a party or a date with friends.
The night before the test week, I went along anyway. I was afraid they would think I was a nerd otherwise.
FOMO occurs when you experience social pressure. Social media has a major influence on FOMO. Although FOMO occurs at all ages, young people in particular suffer from it. On average, women experience more FOMO than men. FOMO can have a negative impact on self-esteem and mental health. This is especially the case if you spend a lot of time on social media.
FOMO refers to the fear of missing out on a social event. On one hand, you don't want to miss anything fun and be everywhere. And on the other hand, you want to be aware of everything others share on social media. You compare your life with those of others. Out of fear of missing out on something fun, you make sure you are everywhere, when in fact you don't even really feel like it.
Young people especially suffer from FOMO. This is because they are still developing their identity and often need others to experience pleasure. They are also more sensitive to the opinions of others.
Social media also increases FOMO. You can end up in a vicious cycle: you constantly check your smartphone because you are curious about what your friends are doing. But then when you know what they are doing, you start feeling unhappy because you are not there.
If you don't want to miss anything and therefore do a lot of activities, you can exceed your own limits and become exhausted. But if you do take an evening off, you become afraid that you are missing out on all sorts of things, making this evening a lot less relaxing.
If you let your FOMO lead you, it can cause you a lot of stress and anxiety, and feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction. It can also be associated with disrupted sleep and insomnia, procastination and low productivity.
FOMO can also have a negative impact on self-esteem. You see opportunities everywhere that you miss and others always have it better. This can even lead to burnout and depression.
With FOMO, you are afraid of missing out on something, which is why you always want to be with everything, even if you don't really feel like it. You may be suffering from FOMO if you recognise these signs:
It is good to realise that FOMO is a very normal feeling that almost everyone suffers from. The following things can help reduce or even eliminate anxiety:
Making choices and setting boundaries is difficult. Fortunately, I have understanding friends and they do understand that I need to study and say no.
Can't shake off your FOMO? Don't get stuck with it. Talk to someone you trust and with whom you feel comfortable – preferably someone close to you, such as a good friend, your parents, sister or brother.
Are you afraid to talk to someone close to you? Then talk about it with someone who is familiar with similar stories, such as your family doctor or someone from your college or university.
If you prefer to share your story anonymously, contact Awel (102 or awel.be) or Tele-Onthaal (106 or teleonthaal.be). If you have questions about suicide or dark thoughts, you can call the Suicide Line (1813 or suicide1813.be).
Do you feel like you are not succeeding with the tips? Would you like individual consultation and coaching to find and discover your pitfalls and what you can do to curb your FOMO?
Then make a quick appointment with the counselling services at your college or university. They offer various training programmes in which you learn to deal with FOMO differently. They can often provide individual counselling as well.
Is a friend suffering from FOMO? If so, talk about it and share your concerns. Try to listen understandingly and without judgment.
You are not alone. Get inspired by other students' stories about vulnerability and doubt. But above all about the power of connectedness.
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