CANCELED: FOMO
November 12, 2024
Writer: Emilie Claire Nason
Editor: Ella Goldman
As a current senior in college, I've had my share of FOMO (fear of missing out) from worrying about missing a party, a dinner, or even a study session. Worries like “What if I miss something amazing?” or “What if the person I like is there, and I’m not?” or “What if I miss something important I’ll need to know later?” have all permeated my thoughts at some point during college. However—and I've been saying this for at least two years now—FOMO should be canceled, and anyone who perpetuates it should know better. There’s no reason a friend, a crush, or anyone else should say, “You should have been there” or “It was lame of you to miss out.”
The most remarkable thing anyone can do is be content with themselves and not yearn for more than they're willing to give. If you don’t feel like going out, seeing someone, or attending an event—don’t. After years of worrying about missing out, I can confidently say that I’ve never once regretted choosing to stay home or do something else.
Let me put your mind at ease. I’ll give five scenarios, and you can provide the worst possible outcomes for missing out. One: You didn’t attend a party or a function. Two: You didn’t see a crush or go somewhere they were. Three: You didn’t go to dinner with friends. Four: You didn’t go to a brunch. Five: You didn’t go to a study session. (Okay, I’ll admit that I’m in favor of study sessions, and you should go, but even then, the worst-case scenario is you take that time to study solo.) If you can think of something truly catastrophic happening because you missed one of these events, please let me know so I can revise my theory. But I don’t think anyone should feel anxious about putting their needs first, allowing themselves space, or just not wanting to do something.
FOMO should be canceled. Let people live how they want without judgment. If you say, “I don’t know if I want to go, but…” just don’t go. It is not the end of the world, and you’ll probably feel better after deciding not to go. If you want to go, then go, but wavering on the edge and being anxious about missing something isn’t cool (it’s human, but it’s not cool). If you say, “You should have come” or “You’re lame for not going” or any other variation, check yourself because you wouldn’t want someone making you feel worse. If you can be content with who you are, what you want, and what you need, you’ll be much happier—trust me on this one.
So if you want to party, do it. But if you’d rather stay in, cuddle up under a blanket, and watch Netflix, don’t feel ashamed for doing what makes you happy.
