Do You Have FOMO?

If when you wake up in the morning and, first thing, jump on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or any form of social media…if while eating you keep your phone near watching for screen light up…if your ears stay tuned for that text or email sound alert—chances are you have FOMO.

Yes, FOMO.  The Fear of Missing Out.  Sadly, I contracted this psychological nemesis.  But I am not alone.  I caught FOMO from my friends, who caught it from their friends, who caught it from their kids and grandkids.   My husband who never liked using a cell phone, once I showed him Facebook Marketplace (a virtual flea market), has FOMO.   All the time now he has FOMO and brings me his phone when he can’t figure out whether to swipe left or right, how to get out of, back into, or close an App.

The fear of missing out is a real steal.  The feeling others are having more fun, living happier lives, or experiencing better things than you are. It may involve a deep sense of envy and can take a serious toll on your self-esteem.  FOMO was believed to be more prevalent among millennials.  However, it is now widely reported baby boomers are exhibiting extreme signs of FOMO.

Being a wild child of the 60’s, we boomers mostly feared a Friday night football game raining out, not being asked to the prom, and failing our driver’s license test.  Which I did.  Twice.  If you were a male, you feared being drafted.  Many were.  My husband included.

How am I dealing with FOMO?  I’m trying (emphasis on trying) to eat with my cell phone face down, mute all sound notifications and Facebook one peek a week.  I can do this, I tell myself.  I quit watching the news a long time ago and I have survived.   Okay, occasionally I fall off the wagon, but one thing I do not fear is FOBH:  Fear of Being Human!

Once I’ve conquered FOMO, I’m prepared to accept ROMO: The Reality of Missing Out!   I plan to embrace it.  Read a book, learn another language, go visit my friends face to face in their place and hear their voices. Spend some time with Jesus…listen for that still small voice.

Finally, if I can break free of FOMO, live with ROMO, surely I will develop JOMO.

Yes, JOMO:  The Joy of Missing Out!