FOMO is the fear of missing out on something important. And suddenly, everything starts to feel important: a lakeside camping trip, visiting grandma at her summer house, picking up a friend from the airport, or finishing a work report. It all seems crucial because it feels like everyone else is managing to do it all, while you’re falling behind. Here’s some advice on how to deal with FOMO.
Make Sure You’re Keeping up With What Truly Matters
When you make time for your top priorities, you won’t stress as much about missing less important things. For example, say you’re excelling at work, visiting your parents once a month, and spending half an hour each evening learning to implement different strategies to succeed at Dragon Slots gambling. If those three things are your focus, you probably won’t be bothered by other people’s dates, weddings, hiking trips, or gym routines.
Priorities can shift over time. Maybe two years ago, you threw all your energy into your career. Now you’ve been promoted to department head, but you feel like you’re missing meaningful connections. Visiting your parents once a month isn’t enough anymore — you want to reconnect with old friends.
Reassess your priorities. Do it in whatever way works for you: journal, record voice memos, talk to loved ones, or consult a therapist. Check in with your inner compass as often as you need. No one else can tell you how many journal entries you should write in a month.
Use Your Desires as a Filter
It’s Thursday, and you’re planning your weekend. You could go to a street market, visit grandma at her summer house, try glamping, snag cheap tickets to Italy, or just stay home and binge Netflix. All these options sound amazing, but they definitely won’t fit into two days. To figure out the best choice, ask yourself two questions: “What do I really want right now?” and “How do I want to experience it?” Use these to weigh your options.
Maybe you’ve spent the last month traveling for work and barely saw your family. You’re exhausted and know you can’t handle an action-packed weekend. What you really want is to catch up on sleep and chill with loved ones. Italy, glamping, and the street market (no matter how cool they sound) are off the table this time. That leaves grandma’s place or Netflix.
At grandma’s, there’s a sauna, the river, and, of course, grandma herself. She’ll listen sympathetically as you vent about work, whip up some pancakes, and hand you a bowl of fresh berries. On Netflix, there’s a new detective series, and your favorite pizza place is running a promo: “Third pizza for free!”
Picture both scenarios in detail and pick the one that feels right for this moment.
List Everything Good and Important in Your Life
FOMO makes you focus on what you don’t have. To shift your perspective, make a big list of all the good things in your life, the things you’re doing well, the happy moments, and what you’re grateful for.
Maybe you didn’t vacation in Cyprus this summer or take that Instagram stories course, but you did have an amazing weekend getaway with friends and finally learned to ride a bike. You also saved up for that dream laptop, and your partner stayed by your side the whole time you were sick with a fever. Lists like this are fun to write and even better to reread.
You Don’t Need to Know What’s Happening in Everyone’s Life
Constant updates about other people’s lives fuel anxiety. If a coworker keeps posting on Instagram about hitting five trendy parties in one night, and it annoys or upsets you, mute their posts. After a while, you might find their content doesn’t bother you anymore, and you can follow them again. Until then, this small step can ease your stress.
Imagine a Stranger Saying It to You
Picture the critical thoughts you tell yourself coming from a stranger. How would you feel if someone said, “You have to read six books a month” or “John got a second degree — what’s your excuse?” Would you actually take their advice? Why should you trust what this stranger says?
Replace self-criticism with support: “Missing the office party sucks, but it was the right call. My headache was so bad, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it anyway. There will be other parties. I’m proud of myself for prioritizing my well-being.”
Choose “Good Enough” Over “the Best”
You could spend hours (or days) searching for the most effective course, the most atmospheric hotel, or the most interesting movie for the night. You want the best option, but the only way to find it is by comparing everything. (You can’t know which apples are sweetest until you’ve tasted them all.) That’s why picking a movie sometimes takes longer than watching it.
Try breaking free from this trap — go with what meets your needs. Cozy Saturday nights don’t only happen at the trendiest rooftop bars. Your parents’ backyard or a friend’s kitchen can be just as fun and fulfilling.
