.png)
The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO): What It Means and How to Practice It
With so much going on in the lives of others, missing out may seem unpleasant. There are parties you do not attend on social media, trips you missed out on, accomplishments you do not achieve, and other activities taking place without you. Although you are exhausted, you feel forced to stay involved, respond instantly, and accept yet another invitation.
But is it possible to learn how to enjoy missing out on things?
Learning how to practice The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) means getting used to picking what you do not want to participate in. JOMO implies focusing on what matters to you instead of thinking about what everybody else is doing. It does not mean avoiding people and opportunities. It is about being thoughtful and intentional with your decisions.
What is the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)?
The Joy of Missing Out, often abbreviated as JOMO, stands for satisfaction in deliberately choosing not to engage in activities, events, news, etc., that do not matter to you.
To put it simply, JOMO represents a change of perspective. The idea is no longer to ask yourself "what am I missing?" Begin by asking yourself, “What do I genuinely want to do?” You might prefer spending your evening at home instead of joining late-night social gatherings. Or you may read instead of endlessly scrolling through your Facebook feed. Or you might stop following each new fashion trend because it is not what you are interested in.
The key thing is that the decision is made by choice, not fear. You stay home not because you are scared of participating in whatever is going on. You stay home because you value the things you do instead.
Why is JOMO Difficult to Practice?
Making a decision to miss something is not that easy when you have information about what other people are doing. Social media allows you to get familiar with the most interesting events, conversations, trips, celebrations, and achievements of people throughout the day.
All of this information makes you think that life is more exciting outside of your comfort zone. You see your friend attending a concert while you work, spending their vacation while you stay at home, and having a nice time at networking events that you skipped. Even though you made this decision consciously, this information makes you question it.
Notifications make things even worse. Messages, group chats, social media, and professional networks give you the feeling that you must always be online. The fear of missing an opportunity might make JOMO difficult for you, too. It might be hard for you to say no to an invitation without risking losing a friendship or missing an important connection due to your absence.
Practicing JOMO means accepting the fact that you cannot be everywhere and do everything. Choosing an experience makes you miss another one. This is something that cannot be avoided because of time constraints.
Benefits of Practicing the Joy of Missing Out
More Control Over Your Time
You will have more control over the time you spend. You will be able to choose which activities you should pay attention to and not accept every invitation and notification just because you got them.
Your schedule will be less dependent on external needs. It will be easier for you to prioritize the activities you value.
Less Social Comparison
The constant comparison of your activities with others' can be provoked by social media. You can find yourself evaluating the quality of your experiences depending on some chosen moments from the life of another person.
JOMO teaches you to focus on your values and priorities and not to compare them with somebody else's experiences, schedule, and life.
More Time for Rest
You can easily view rest as some reward for all your efforts. But you can hardly ever complete all your tasks, as there is always some notification, message, invitation, or update you have to attend to.
The choice of missing out can give you a chance to rest. You will be able to spend an evening doing nothing and enjoying your leisure time.
Greater Presence
It is hard to concentrate on your current activity if you are busy checking whether you are missing something. JOMO will teach you to pay attention to what you are doing at the moment. You will not have to check your phone constantly while eating or reading.
More Intentional Choices
Probably, the greatest advantage of JOMO practice is that it teaches you to make decisions according to your priorities. You will not have to consider whether other people will come and go to the party just because all your friends will be there.
How to Practice JOMO in Everyday Life
Say No When You Would Rather Not Participate
It is not necessary to agree to participate in every event. Sometimes it is okay to reject the activity if it does not suit your preferences, schedule, or priorities. Also, there is no need to give a detailed explanation of your decision. A polite refusal like "Thank you, but I will pass this time" may be enough.
It is easier to reject if you understand that by turning down one event, you free yourself for another.
Set Social Media Boundaries
Social media can make it hard to overcome FOMO because all the information about others' activities is available. Set limits to enable yourself to go offline without constant doubts about what you are missing.
Switch off the extra notifications, limit the amount of social media usage, and create moments when you completely disconnect from the Internet. It is also possible to avoid social platforms when you are involved in some activities. It is not necessary to delete all social media accounts; the goal is to avoid their control over your attention.
Stop Checking What You Are Missing
One of the easiest ways to practice JOMO is to pay attention to the urge to check it. You may watch a movie and suddenly think about group chat, or relax at home and become interested in others' activities.
Before you start to look, try to figure out what is behind your wish. Are you really interested in what happens, or can't stand not knowing about it? It is possible that you can endure uncertainty and continue to do what brings pleasure to you.
Make Time for Activities You Enjoy
It is easier to practice JOMO when you have activities that satisfy you without being obliged to invite anyone.
Read a book, go for a walk, cook a meal, exercise, engage yourself in a hobby, listen to music, spend time with a person you like, or just be alone. The activity does not have to be impressive or productive; it just should satisfy you.
Leave Room for Unplanned Time
There is no need for you to fill each and every spare minute of yours. Having an unscheduled evening or weekend can be very important as a way of practicing JOMO.
You don't need to find another activity after canceling your initial plans right away. Sometimes, having nothing planned is precisely what you need.
Make Decisions Based on What Matters to You
Think of asking yourself a couple of questions before accepting any invitation or opportunity that comes your way. Do I really want to join this activity? Does it suit my values and priorities? Am I interested in the experience itself, or am I afraid to miss out?
Such questions will help you see the difference between the real desire to take the offer and the fear of being left behind. With time, this will make your decisions more intentional.
Conclusion
Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) does not mean you should miss out on everything around you. It means learning how to be at peace with missing the things that don't deserve your attention.
No one can participate in all the events, be aware of all the trends, answer all the messages, and experience everything that is going on around them. Otherwise, there will not be any room left for rest, real relationships, self-care activities, and mindfulness.
With JOMO, you may learn to switch from "What am I missing out on?" to "What do I want to be a part of?" This shift in perspective can greatly affect the decisions you make. Perhaps you may decide to skip another party and spend an evening at home, have a conversation instead of mindlessly browsing social media, and get enough sleep instead of adding more to your schedule.
Contact Us
Contact us for a free wellbeing consultation! Our experienced psychologists and wellness experts are here to support your mental and emotional health needs. Start your journey to a healthier mind and a happier life today!
Comments