JOMO the ‘Joy Of Missing Out’ is nothing but a feeling of happiness with where you are and what you have. It’s all about staying in the moment and cherishing the simplest things in life. And most importantly, stop worrying about what others are up to.
JOMO, an antidote of FOMO is a mindfulness practice that inspires you to focus on the here and now. There will always be something better to do, but what matters is that you enjoy this moment to the fullest.
JOMO vs FOMO
JOMO is a ‘feel good’ emotion about not being glued to everything that happens around you. FOMO on the flip side is a worry of missing every event or juicy info. FOMO makes you believe that you need to follow every trend and be a part of every party. While JOMO is the idea that you can have a great life without relentlessly trying to fit in.
So basically, when we feel missing out on something, it creates a sense of living an unfulfilled life. Which undeniably leads to an endless pursuit of more. And hence, no matter how much you have, this never ending want shall leave you dissatisfied and unhappy. That’s why we beed to embrace JOMO, an emotionally intelligent mindset, which help us discern what is worth our attention and what’s not.
How to bring JOMO in your life
Set boundaries
You have limited time in your kitty, so use it wisely. Only add those things to your schedule which are important. So choose whether you want to hit the gym or go for drinks. When you lay down some clear boundaries, you’re guarding your personal time. So instead of wasting your time in worrying about what others are doing focus on what really matters to you. That way you can dive in those activities that really makes you happy.
Stay in present
Wherever you are, just be there totally. Remember, what’s missed is missed; and there is no point dwelling on it. Even though you have missed that game with your friends, but now instead of thinking about how much fun they are having without you, just make the best of this moment of yours. Watch a movie, read a book, go for a ride or just finish your work and reward yourself with an amazing dinner afterwards. The idea is to withdraw yourself from that constant competition with others.
Limit social media
It’s tough to focus on your own life when you’re always scrolling through social media. Hence, it’s absolutely necessary to cut back on the virtual world inside your smartphone. A good start is to temporarily uninstall those apps or set some strict daily limits so you’re not endlessly scrolling. Create a downtime routine like during meals or before bedtime. Making these little changes can help you find a better balance between your online life and the real world around you.
Say No
Ask yourself, do you really have to be present at every event? Do you always have to take every phone call? Is it absolutely necessary to be a part of everything that is going around you? The answer is NO and that’s what you need to say off and on. Sometimes, saying no is the best kind of self-care. When you stop saying yes mindlessly to everything that comes your way; you can actually focus on what really matters. We all have limited time energy and resources so why not choose it wisely? Saying no allows us to choose between what we really want and what we are compelling ourselves to do.
Quiet your mind
Allow yourself a few minutes to do nothing. When you sit alone, your mind talks to itself and you do nothing but to simply listen to it. This is your time to shut down external as well as internal noise. Use these peaceful moments to know the real you, to look for what pleases you. Every day, for a few minutes only, just slow down and engage with yourself. So take your calendar out and mark a slot to do nothing.
Instead of just following what everyone else is doing, dive into activities that you really love. So go ahead, try out new hobbies, get creative, or hang out with your favourite people and remember, just be yourself while you’re at it.
"Joy comes to us in moments—ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary." - Brené Brown