This weekend I’m scheduled to attend a blogger event in Orange County — about 75 miles from where I live. It’s taking place on Sunday evening and part of me wants to attend and another part of me wants to stay home, curl up with a good book and enjoy my favorite television shows. The first-time blogger event is by invitation only, and I feel good about being recognized and included. It could be a great way to meet other bloggers.
On the other hand, I have a very busy weekend ahead and I really don’t want to make the long drive. Yet, I still keep going back and forth. So what’s my problem? I’m suffering from Fear of Missing Out, otherwise known as FOMO. I first read about it in the New York Times last April.
Basically, it’s the old ‘grass is greener’ concept, but FOMO sounds way more cool.
FOMO affects everybody at one time or another. However, the advent of social media — where we’re connected 24/7 – has more of us are experiencing the fear that something else could be more interesting, exciting, amusing or just plain better than what we are doing right now. And, if we participate, then we’ll surely regret it later. As a result, many of us (count me in…because god knows I don’t want to be left out of the loop) are cramming more and more commitments into our work and personal schedules, because we can’t stand the thought of missing out.
FOMO also brings chronic indecision, making it difficult to live in the present. I see this in myself as I’m constantly trying to hedge my bet about future events, and then regretting what has happened in the past.
To me, it sounds like a circular problem with no good solution — and it probably is.
So while I don’t have the answers to controlling FOMO, I do know that for this weekend, I’ve made a decision. I’ll not be attending the Blogging event. That’s right, my FOOE (Fear Of Over Exposure) trumps FOMO every time.
I thought I would revisit this post. I was going to respond to some of the comments but I won't. I realize I wrote this on the wrong site.
By the way..nevermind.
My six year old granddaughter told me just the other day that she is learning yoga in gym class. She said the teacher told them it would help them to calm down and be more peaceful. Then she demonstrated warrior lll and tree pose. I promised her I'd 
An addendum: I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and by little bit I mean a lot. I hate making mistakes, hate getting in trouble and am not a bit fan of being wrong. However, I learned that the most useful thing I could do for myself was to all
Watermusic,
That is exactly what to do to keep your spirit and energy in harmony. Thank you for sharing. Letting yourSelf off the hook is the hard part. Good for you.
I want to share your story with a client that is coming next week who can ne
I guess it is your son or M. Obviously your son is into protecting you from further engagement in a destructive relationship. Your son is right, you did deceive him. Again, obviously he holds you in higher esteem than you hold yourself.
Ho
Hi Nancy, I just learned about FOMO from my daughter, a senior in college. For her and her friends, its an epidemic! I have the opposite problem – FOBB (fear of being bored). I would much rather entertain myself than have to sit through something that doesn’t interest me.
On another note, congrats on being invited to the blogging event – as a new blogger myself, I am always looking for ways to connect with others.
FOMO is something that happens often even if we don’t recognize it. 3 years ago I made a new years resolution to say yes to most things that came my way.FOMO was a criteria that I used though not the word,and if the event was full of FOBBB like Sharon says, I knew it for the future.