Let’s talk about JOMO.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and under pressure to live the Insta-life, you need yourself some JOMO. The Joy of Missing Out, coined by philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann, is the response to FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out.

FOMO manifests itself everywhere: there’s this idea that you always need to be going out more, doing more, going to more events, doing more activities, acquiring more possessions and even being more. How can you live up to modern day society’s expectations of your daily life if you’re not grabbing every opportunity, and subsequently posting your highlights on your social media stories?

Life fills up pretty quickly. You’ve got your job taking up most of your waking hours, especially if your commute is a hellish one, and work tasks that we take on when they’re not actually our responsibility; then there are social events we don’t really want to go to and ‘friends’ that drain us of all energy and empathy to their little troubles; endless sales leading to unnecessary items cluttering your wardrobe, home and handbag; not to mention the sheer volume of life admin needed to keep all of this chugging along.

Marie Kondo has it right: if it doesn’t spark joy, get rid.

And that’s where the joy of missing out comes in: say no to all those things that are just too much.

Nope, I don’t want to go to that dinner.
Can you do this? No, I don’t have time. But I really need you to do this. Nope, not my job.

You don’t need society’s permission to decline an invitation; you don’t even need a reason to say ‘no’.

Just say it out loud now: no.

It’s not rude or too honest or anti-social: if you don’t want to do something, simply politely (but firmly) decline.

Saying no is actually the most logical response to feeling overwhelmed; it means you’re putting yourself (and your sanity) first, and giving yourself time to take a break from the world.

You might worry you’ll be perceived as lazy or unfair or that you’re not putting enough into a relationship, but saying yes to everything and wearing yourself out is detrimental in the long run. The compulsive need to agree and please everyone means we’re losing ourselves in the blur of endless more.

It’s simply unsustainable. How often is your week fully booked: busy with work, with hobbies, projects, events, friends, exercise classes? And when you finally do get that free evening, how often do you feel on edge, unable to fully unwind, with your mind ticking over all the things you could be doing?

Rates of anxiety and stress are through the roof worldwide. Saying no is crucial to preventing yourself spiraling.

This extends to your social media use. There’s always another post to read, another scroll before bed. Sometimes, a motivational post pops up just when you need it; other times, it’s a photo of your friend on holiday, grinning smugly. Social media contributes to the feeling of being overwhelmed and inundated with pressure to be, do and experience more. You can say no to this: it’s as simple as closing the app or even taking a detox for a while (or forever?).

Left unchecked, your FOMO will lead you straight to burnout, which can wreak havoc on your happiness, health, relationships and livelihood. Saying no to the unnecessary will help restore the balance. Embrace the Joy of Missing Out. ■

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Let’s talk about JOMO.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and under pressure to live the Insta-life, you need yourself some JOMO. The Joy of Missing Out, coined by philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann, is the response to FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out.

The destructive habit of social comparison

In the age of social media, comparison has become almost instinctive. Overwhelmed with edited and cosmetically enhanced faces, reshaped bodies positioned in carefully calculated poses, and all manner of lavish possessions, our perception of reality can begin to warp and, in turn, our self-worth suffers as the expectations we hold for ourselves adapt.

Why is universal healthcare such a polarising issue in the United States?

While government funded schemes do exist, healthcare in the US is a largely private sector that costs Americans thousands of dollars every year, and yet continues to perform poorly when compared to other developed countries. Why, then, does the American public seem to oppose universal healthcare so vehemently?