FOMO. The fear of missing out. It’s a feeling we’ve all probably experienced at least once in our lives. As a shy, introverted person who needs time to make new friends but also enjoys going out and trying new things (sometimes more in theory than in practice), I’ve experienced FOMO countless times. But perhaps the most I’ve felt it is now, while studying abroad.
One of the great things about Europe is that you can travel to another country in a matter of only a few hours or less. But every coin has two sides, and this ease of traveling is my current source of FOMO. It’s Spring Break, the perfect time to traipse across Europe, having the adventure of a lifetime. But what if you didn’t start making spring break plans the second week of classes? What if you quietly listened with growing anxiety as everyone around you discussed how they were going to spend break, and you had no clue what you were going to do? Now the time has come, and you’re left sitting at home as everyone else flies off to (not so) distant lands.
What am I going to do? I want to go to Galway and Barcelona (thanks, Ed Sheeran). This is the perfect opportunity to travel, and I’m just staying where I am in England, not taking advantage of it?
These are just some of the thoughts that have plagued my mind the past few days.
But what I’ve come to realize is that while I can’t stop my initial thoughts of FOMO popping up, I can push them back down. The key is perspective. I’m in London — a top travel destination where it’s pretty much impossible to run out of things to do. Sure, my spring break might not seem as exciting as everyone else’s at first, but I can have my own adventures. People having fun doing one thing does not stop me from having fun doing another thing. The two are not mutually exclusive.
That seems to be the key issue of the fear of missing out. I become so preoccupied with what others are doing, and not having the same experience as them, that I forget I can have my own experiences that are just as enjoyable. If I spend my whole life thinking of all the things I have not done instead of remembering all the amazing experiences I have had, happiness will be difficult to come by. But if I remember the good in every day, and cherish the memories I make, positive feelings are sure to come.
Each day is a gift, and life is too short to think about what you could have done instead of remembering what you have done. Go out and experience what the world has to offer — when you stop comparing your experiences to others, the world becomes a pretty amazing place.
