Choose JOMO Over FOMO

I'm sure we've all heard about FOMO, the "fear of missing out." Usually this pertains to our relationship with electronic devices. Many of us may feel a little antsy if we haven't checked our phones, email, or social media accounts in the last few minutes (I'm slightly exaggerating here...slightly). We're afraid we may have missed something important or interesting if we're not constantly plugged in to what's going on.

In direct contrast to FOMO, there's JOMO, "the joy of missing out." Amazing as it may seem, there are some people (including yours truly) who have no fear of missing out because they choose to miss out. Have I lost you? Yes, there are actually people who willfully put away their phones, step away from their laptops, and turn off their TVs to do other things that don't require electric or batteries.

Take a moment to think about it. Are you really happy staying tuned to the news every moment of the day? Do those memes on social media really enrich your life? Is it really vital to see photos of what your sister ate for dinner yesterday? Or would you be happier putting those things aside to read, have an actual conversation with someone, do a hobby, or take a walk outside?

Be daring--choose JOMO! I understand that social media and being connected to almost everyone on the planet is part of our reality these days, but we can always unplug from all that for a while. JOMO can even be regarded as a form of self-care. And with the holiday season here, it may just be the thing that will help many of us stay sane through them.

Wishing you times of JOMO from the perch.