Missing out—we have all been there. An event comes up and you want to go, knowing that if you do, you will have a good time and have something to post about on Instagram in the morning. But when you remember that exam you have the next day, going to this event suddenly becomes a serious moral dilemma. You become afraid that if you miss out on going, events like this will never happen again because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You also think about how missing a night of studying will affect the score you get on your exam. So should you stay, or should you go?

The Fear of Missing Out, otherwise known as FOMO, is a real thing, and it happens to all of us. Sometimes, it is hard to justify missing an event because you want to experience it. The feeling of missing out is one of jealousy, anger, and disgust, making you wish that you went to the event you missed when you see your friend’s social media updates in the morning. However, maybe missing events can actually be beneficial, especially if you are trying to achieve long term goals.

Whether your goals involve getting a job or getting into medical school, it takes hard work and dedication in order to achieve these goals. In order to make these goals a reality, sacrifices must be made. Going to events all the time could be a way to do something other than study or work, but it could also be a distraction and make you forget what you are trying to achieve.

On the other hand, life is full of opportunities so it is important to take them as they come. This can allow you to have many experiences that you can look back on and remember for the rest of your life. This can also allow you to justify going to events, as you will never be able to experience an event that is similar if you missed it.

Deciding to go to an event is then a personal choice. You have to decide whether or not going to this event will benefit you. It can be hard to justify going to an event, especially when you are receiving pressure from people around you who are going. It can also be hard to miss out on an event, too. You can feel like no one understands why you are missing the event, but your decision is really for yourself.

In the end, it should be your decision to miss an event, because it is your life. You have the power to make your own choices and know what is best for you. It is okay to miss an event. Although the same event may not happen again, other events will happen that you could go to. In the big picture of your life, you will also not remember the event you missed, but you will remember the hard work and dedication that allowed you to achieve your goals and that is important, too.