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The Fear of Missing Out: Why FOMO Hits Hard When School Starts

The first week back

You open Instagram between classes and see a lot of smiling faces, pictures from the club fair, and someone you barely know already hanging out with "their people."

And there you are, scrolling and wondering if you're the only one who isn't living the social dream.


That's the fear of missing out, or FOMO. That voice that says, "Everyone else is doing better, happier, and more." And yes, it hits hard when the semester starts.


What FOMO Is and Why It Messes With Your Head

FOMO is just anxiety that looks like social anxiety.

It makes you think you're falling behind in school, in your social life, or in your emotional life, even when you're not.


Our brains are made to connect with other people. A long time ago, being left out of a group meant you were in danger. Your "tribe" is now online, and every time someone posts a highlight reel, your brain lights up like you've just been kicked out of it.


The science says that even seeing a friend's post about an event you didn't go to can make you feel the same way as being left out. You're not being dramatic; your brain really does feel it.


The Two Sides of FOMO

FOMO can get you to do things, like join a club, go to a study jam, or talk to someone new.


But it can also make you tired quickly. You stop living your own life and start chasing after other people's lives.


You begin to compare:

  • "They already have a group of friends."

  • "She is working part-time and going to school at the same time."

  • "He's already looking for internships."

You don't want to compete, but it feels like you're losing a game you never signed up for.


You May Recognize This Story Too Well

You're exhausted, done with people, and in need of some quiet, so you spend a Friday night at home. Your phone then starts buzzing. Snapchat: everyone's out. Stories on Instagram with the hashtag "Best night ever."


Your night seems off right away. You begin to think, "Maybe I should have gone," “Maybe this makes me boring,” or “Perhaps I'm not experiencing life at all”.


Your rest night feels like a failure, and even though you put your phone down, your mind is racing. That's FOMO at its best.


JOMO, or the Joy of Missing Out

This is the solution. The Joy of Missing Out, or JOMO, changes the course of events. It all comes down to choosing carefully what you say "no" to.


You're organizing life, not avoiding it. You own the decision to stay in rather than feeling bad about it. Because, let's face it, sometimes the best memories are created in quiet moments when you have time to yourself rather than in a crowded basement at two in the morning.


Laziness is not what JOMO is. It is clarity. It's coming 

to terms with the fact that you don't have to fit in 

everywhere. That calm, relaxation, and introspection 

are equally important as noise and excitement.


How to Embrace JOMO and Overcome FOMO

Here's where to begin:

  • Unfollow the false highlight reels. Your mental health > their curated feed

  • Take care of yourself. Just joy, no story, no post.

  • Establish limits. Not all invitations are worthy of a "yes."

  • Keep in mind: attention ≠ connection. Genuine friendships can be formed offline.

  • Find out what really matters. It's not worth it if it doesn't support the goals you have or peace.


Conclusion

In actuality, nobody has it all together. Everybody struggles with "missing out" in one way or another. Who owns it makes a difference.


Pass up the idea that you need to catch up. Instead of just creating a life that appears full, start creating one that feels full. Because you finally begin living your own story when you stop trying to live everyone else's.


Sources:

Written By:

Vibhas Tallapalli


 
 
 

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