FOMO, or (for those of you who are not up to speed) the fear of missing out, has become an increasingly popular trend among the millennial generation. However, upon further thought, I have found that this might not be a trend at all, but a terrifying concern. Per Entrepreneur, “according to a new study by Eventbrite, 69 percent of millennials experience FOMO when they can’t attend something that their family or friends are going to.” For millennials, FOMO is not just a cultural phenomenon, it’s an epidemic. The question is, if we live as if there is always something better out there that we don't have, how could we ever be satisfied?

I found that our generation would rather spend time, money, and energy on life experiences rather than material goods, which I can completely verify personally. I 100% would take skydiving or a movie date or a family vacation over buying something. It’s the memories that create a full life… right? We (millennials and gen Z-ers speaking in a broad sense, of course) seem to place a lot of value on the bonds we share with others. We tend to stick with our buddies and if they are doing something that we aren’t included in, we immediately resort to playing 20 Questions with ourselves wondering “why wasn’t I invited?” “what are they doing?” “I wonder if they’re having fun” “who else is there?” etc.

FOMO is not only seen with experiences but can also be found in relationships. I dub this “The One” or “Soulmate” syndrome. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not cold hearted or made of stone, and I can be a mushy gushy romantic. But, does it really seem plausible that each and every one of the billions of people in the world has exactly one person who perfectly completes them as a significant other? I say no.

How does this mindset affect the dating scene? Well, the fear of missing out might just drive you insane. Picture this: You are in a relationship that is going great, but you can’t help but think ‘what if there is someone better for you?’ Is that really a way to live? Yes, you should never settle for less than you deserve, but how do you know when “the one” is “the one?” Or, it can go to an even further extent when you begin questioning your relationship status as a whole, wondering if being single is better than being in a relationship, yet longing for a relationship when you are single. I feel like this way of thinking is just another way to torture yourself and a device to never let yourself be happy. FOMO might just make you pass up a perfectly joyful life. I wouldn’t mess with fate, y'all.

Time Magazine nails exactly what FOMO is when it states that it’s “the uneasy and sometimes all-consuming feeling that you’re missing out- that your peers are doing, in the know about, or in possession of more or something better than you.” Who hasn’t felt this way? If you haven’t, please share the secret to your superpower.

FOMO stems from and perpetuates unhappiness. If you are sad, you think that there is something better out there for you, and when you think there’s something better out there for you, you get even more sad. Social media makes it SO easy to be fooled by other people’s “perfect” lives, and FOMO can quickly become an endless cycle in a downhill spiral. So, how do you get over it?

Time offers a few solutions that seem pretty simple, actually. First, it says that “happiness is about attention. Focus on the good and you will feel good.” This is the time-old solution to sadness. If you choose to be happy, then you will be. I completely understand this in some respects for many, but for others who suffer from severe depression or anxiety, it might not be enough. Next, it said to “try gratitude,” which honestly makes sense. If you take some time each day to think about everything positive in your life and be thankful for them and begin to appreciate them, you are less likely to feel like your life is lacking.

I think that the concept of FOMO was played off as a silly generational cliché, similar to the cringe-worthy YOLO. But in all honesty, it is much scarier and runs much deeper than that. I know that I will suffer from some feelings of FOMO as I make the transition into college, and I’m sure many of you have experienced it as well. As I begin a new journey, I want to escape from this never ending game of 20 Questions and let go.

I say we all band together and start living in the now, and appreciating our own experiences, and make “FOMO” NOMO… (too much? Nah, I don’t think so) because life can be pretty amazing sometimes.