For years, we’ve been taught to live in a state of FOMO panic. The fear of missing out is all around us. It’s at the networking event we couldn’t attend because of a scheduling conflict or at a partner’s store opening a sudden stomach flu kept us from going to. FOMO is especially apparent with social media, where a simple scroll through Instagram can leave us seething with jealousy over the endless vacations, brunches, and trips our friends seem to indulge in on a weekly basis.
There’s usually a lingering FOMO cloud overhead for an entrepreneur who spends their early years in business focused solely on the business. If you’re bootstrapping the company, FOMO comes in knowing you must stick to a budget while everyone else dines out. If you’re spending all of your time in the office, then you’re not participating in extracurricular activities. Focus on what you’re missing long enough and it can keep you from living in the moment.
What if we stopped thinking about what we’re not doing and embraced not being ‘on’ instead? That’s where JOMO, or the Joy Of Missing Out, comes in. Here’s how it works and why embracing the concept can lead to a happier, healthier you.
Missing out allows you to create balance
This is the argument that The New York Times makes in favor of the joy of missing out. We have long been taught to say yes and that success is found in showing up. However, when we opt out of making ourselves available for everything or responding back to emails in 30 seconds or less, we are actually setting and establishing boundaries for ourselves. This is crucial for the internal work/life balance of an entrepreneur. It allows us to better prioritize the wants and needs of the business as well as our own self care.
Being absent can be a (really) good thing
So, you didn’t make it to a launch party or happy hour. What happened afterward? Did the world end? Were you shunned by all of your friends and business partners? Or did life simply happen? It’s a little like being in school all over again. You might wonder what you missed on the day you weren’t in class, but it’s likely that nothing all that newsworthy happened either.
Rather than stressing out about your absence, see it as a positive especially if you let everyone know you couldn’t make it in advance. It’s not worth it to get worked up about something that is out of your control. There will always be more events to attend, places to go, and stuff to do ahead in the future. Learn to be a little choosy and cherry pick where spend your precious time so you’re able to show up as the most present, confident version of yourself.
You are, and are doing, enough
One of the most troubling aspects of FOMO is that no matter what you have accomplished, you will never feel like you have done enough. The joy of missing out replaces that worry with a sense of peace.
Where you are, all that you have accomplished, and all that you are presently working on is more than enough. By taking time away from it all, events and tech devices like smartphones and laptops included, you are able to tap into your introspective side. You are claiming your time to yourself and reflecting on all of the good, positive things going on in your life. This can make you a better leader and help you realize that JOMO is the true mindset to embrace rather than FOMO.