We’re a nation gripped by the ‘Fear of Missing Out’ and it’s making us miserable. Fight the FOMO with our five top tricks.
1 Get perspective
Next time you’re scrolling through Facebook, develop your own set of X-ray goggles to cut through the gloss. ‘Appreciate the point of social media is for individuals to stage-manage their lives 24-7,’ says Ros Taylor (rostaylorcompany.com), author of Confidence at Work: Get It, Feel It, Keep It. ‘People are cropping and filtering their photos and status updates – few people post pictures of themselves having an awful time. Remember that behind the glossy façade, everyone has problems.’
2 Limit your browsing time
Download an app such as Stayfocused (chrome.google.com) or Rescue Time (rescuetime.com), which limit the amount of time you spend on certain websites and make you more aware of how you’re spending your time online.
3 Be brilliant at one thing
‘At work, concentrate on doing one thing well. And next time you’re fretting that you haven’t been included in a project or meeting, remember that skill and it will help you appreciate your worth,’ says personal development coach Penny Davenport. ‘You don’t need to be a jack of all trades, it’s exhausting and doesn’t necessarily lead to you realising your full career potential.’
4 Love real life
Life is richer on the other side of the screen. ‘Whenever you catch yourself jealously scanning friends’ status updates and tweets, put down your smartphone and go and talk to someone face to face, whether it’s your partner or a neighbour,’ says Davenport. ‘If you feel lacking in real-life relationships, try taking up a new sport or hobby that involves interacting with others.’
5 Get comfortable with solitude
‘One of the biggest gripes we have with modern life is that we don’t get enough time to ourselves,’ says Taylor. ‘When you do get time to yourself, enjoy it rather than indulging in Facebook FOMO – read a book, practice mindfulness. The added benefit is that when we’re alone, we tend to come up with our best ideas.’