Q: Dear Vince, How do I deal with FOMO (fear of missing out) on social media?
A: I understand this question all too well. Constantly seeing what events are going on, or seeing people you care about hang out without you can be frustrating from time to time.
When I see those posts, I like to reassure myself that there are no issues, and if this is someone I would like to hang out with, invite them to do something with you. Get coffee, study, or even just talk to them to gain a new friend or study partner. A lot of the time, people forget about when others’ want to hang out, or they may be invited by another friend, and that’s okay. It’s important to remember that sometimes, it’s okay to sit it out.
Journaling is also a great channel to take this energy and put it into something positive. The energy of taking how you feel and putting it onto paper is a powerful tool that is often forgotten.
You could also do something for yourself: run a bath, play some music and relax. Getting away from social media and taking care of yourself is also a great opportunity to work on how you feel with FOMO. I also like to turn on a movie and turn off my phone for the night, when I can to give myself a break.
Lastly, if you truly think you need it, you can always deactivate your accounts temporarily to give yourself the social media detox. Purging the problem can also overall make drastic changes in mental health.
