Got FOMO? Try JOMO – the joy of missing out – instead; experts explain how to switch and why it can help make you happier
- The antidote to FOMO – the fear of missing out – JOMO involves paying less attention to what others are doing and being more content with your own activities
- To experience JOMO, a good start is to cut back social media use and spend more quality time with friends, family – and yourself
Sad at missing an evening out with friends? Wish you were travelling to an exotic location like your colleague on their latest holiday? Regret turning down tickets to the opening show of a musical?
But for some, FOMO is giving way to JOMO – the joy of missing out. It is the contentment you feel undergoing a digital detox or lounging at home, reading a book or baking, giving priority to what you really want, without feeling anxious that you are missing out on what others are doing.
On TikTok, videos with the hashtag #JOMO had reportedly amassed almost 53 million views by early 2024. Meanwhile, in a December Instagram post, influencer Jenn Todryk (@theramblingredhead) proclaimed she “can’t wait to miss the next thing” and invited her 1.6 million followers to “tag a friend that has JOMO”. The post currently has more than 205,000 likes.
When the pandemic restricted socialising, many people discovered they could be happy at home, be it crocheting or playing a game, or spending quiet time alone or with loved ones. They realised they could live happily spending more time in the real world and less on social media.
