Fear of missing out or FOMO is very common and is a reason for stress in people’s lives. Fear or dread develops when you think people are having more fun than you and are doing better than you. It leads to a feeling of envy and a desire to have a life like that ensues. This has increased because of the use of social media sites that connect different people around the globe. And enables them to sneak a peek into each other’s lives. This article talks about how to deal with FOMO with friends. Firstly, it is important to know what is FOMO to answer the question- how do I stop FOMO with friends?

FOMO has become a phenomenon after the use of social media rose. You end up comparing your life to highlights of someone else’. This also changes your definition of a ‘normal’ life where you seem to be doing worse than the people around you. Now it is easier to see others’ statuses and pictures of good times than before. Showing off is common on social media.

Social Networking Sites and Dealing With FOMO with Friends

FOMO and social media use go hand in hand. People use social media to know what their friends and peers are up to and experience FOMO. And FOMO encourages people to keep using social media to keep getting information about people. Anyone can be caught in this loop. Teens and younger people are more likely to experience FOMO as they use social media more than other age groups.

People who use these sites a lot have higher mental health issues. Social media use has been found to lead to more stress because of FOMO. People tend to develop depression and anxiety and also increase their use of social media sites which keeps them from getting better.

Age, Gender, and FOMO

Social media usage is more common among younger people but now people of all ages have an access to phones and anyone can get a social media account. People of all ages and gender around the world are vulnerable to excessive phone usage and FOMO.

Life Satisfaction

FOMO and increased social media use lead to a lower sense of satisfaction with life. Since it encourages comparison and striving for better constantly, it keeps people feeling that they want more. There is a feeling that the fulfillment of needs is not satisfactory leading to the feeling of discontentment.

 

FOMO in general leads to lesser enjoyment and contentment in life. There are steps that you can use to deal with FOMO with friends:

Change Your Perspective

We are bombarded with so many pictures and information about others on social media. This acts as a reminder of the things we don’t have or haven’t accomplished yet. But a way of reducing FOMO is by focusing on what you do have instead of what you do not have. By showing gratitude towards those people and things that make you enjoy life, you will feel blissful and happy.

You can also change how your feed looks by removing people who show off on social media and keeping people who add value to your feed. This will reduce the posts that trigger you and help you deal with FOMO with friends.

Keep a Journal

Social media is a kind of a visual journal for keeping a record of all your experiences in one place so that you can showcase it to your friends and other followers. You might have noticed a rush that comes when you post a vacation picture to see what others think about it. People online can either validate or criticize your opinions and experiences. This can come with a lot of distress.

An alternative to this can be making an offline, paper journal of all the memories and experiences you had. This can be away from the public eye and bring you joy whenever you open it. An offline alternative to social media is one of the ways one can deal with FOMO with friends.

Seek Out Real Connections

Social media started as a medium to catch up with friends and maintain contact. Although, it’s for catching up people can also use it to keep tabs on others and know what’s going on in their lives. Since most of our conversations happen on social media, we tend to feel lonely and sad. And surprisingly when we feel lonely, we open our social media accounts to catch up with friends. After scrolling through your feed, you might notice pictures of friends enjoying with others and in general having a good time. This can foster a sense of FOMO and end up making you feel more alone.

Seeking friends and like-minded people on social media is tricky. Arrange for a meeting in person where you can have a meal or watch a movie together. You can also have a group get-together at a common hang-out spot where you are physically close to people. This can improve your mood and help you stop experiencing FOMO with friends.

Focus on the Present

When you are busy seeing the fun others are having, you are missing out on what you can do at this moment to improve your mood. Living in the moment is not just a clichéd line passed around in movies. If adopted in life, it can lead to lasting happiness and satisfaction. This is because you will be responsible for your time and will work towards enriching your life with more and more positivity.

Reduce Social Media Use

This is a drastic measure that is easier said than done. Social media has an allure that encourages people to get hooked on it. But if you can reduce social media use, you can use your time in a way that gives you peace and joy. This can also help you deal with FOMO with friends.

Experiencing FOMO has a huge impact on self-esteem and confidence. Please enroll in our course on ‘Low Self Esteem‘ to gain useful solutions for improving self-esteem.