FOMO Got Me Again

It was just another Sunday evening — exams around the corner, homework untouched and piling up, and my mom telling me to "divorce" the snacks to save my stomach for dinner. My phone sat next to my books, pinging every now and then. 

I peeked into instagram — and BOOM — someone’s already visited the new café. Another friend has seen the new movie. 

How is it that I’m the only one in my group who hasn’t watched ‘Mrs.’ yet?. 😭

And I am like — Damn. FOMO got me again!

That Feeling. . . . It's real. 

FOMO — Fear of Missing Out — We all know it. But is it more than just a slang used by Gen Z and Millennials ? Yes, it is.. 

It’s defined as the pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent. Or in simple words — that nagging feeling that everyone has a cooler life than you. 

It hits even more hard when you are stuck doing something unfun. 

|They’re out there romancing life — I’m here stuck in a situationship with my syllabus.

Reality or Reality Show 

Let’s be real — No one shares the boring or bad part (even you don’t). But when you're scrolling from the outside, all you see are the laughs, the filters, the fun and suddenly you are thinking: 

● Is my life seriously this uneventful? 

● Why does everyone else seem so put together? ● Am I missing out on memories I’ll never get back? Spoiler Alert: They are probably wondering the same thing when they see your posts. 

Through the Eyes of FOMO

|It’s just a trend. Why are you making such a big deal about it? 

|Ummm. . . Excuse me !! 

● 58% of FOMO sufferers say their sleep is negatively impacted due to late-night scrolling . 

● Research shows FOMO contributes to distracted driving, experimenting with alcohol, risky online behaviors, and even skipping classes 

● Heavy social media users experience 13–66% higher rates of depression compared to light users 

● A Cambridge study among 616 students found that 52.5% reported moderate to extreme FOMO, which strongly correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression . 

FOMO is not just a fleeting emotion — it can cause: 

● Stomach tension and nausea. 

● Headaches. 

● Body aches and pain. 

● Heart palpitations and increased heart rate. 

● Feelings of emotional distress. 

● Increase in intrusive thoughts 

● cycle of negative self-talk 

It starts with a scroll, a story, a snap — and suddenly you’re not just missing out on a plan, you’re questioning your worth, your place, your people.

So no, it’s not “just a trend.” 

It’s a silent mental health trigger — and it deserves to be taken seriously. 

FOMO First Aid 101: No Capes, Just Coping 

Trying not to get sucked into the black hole of FOMO. Okay, hear me out (or in this case– read) 

● Unplug to Recharge (Your Brain, Not Your Phone) ➔Limit social media usage 

➔Turn off notifications 

➔Remember: There is a whole world outside which needs no filters. 

● Meditation,not Notification 

  ➔Pause mental chaos 

  ➔Anchor yourself to the present 

  ➔Quiet spot + relaxed posture + eyes closed + breathe 

● Flip the script 

  ➔Practice gratitude 

  ➔Count your blessings 

  ➔Focus on your wins, big or small 

● Living Offline Is the New Flex 

  ➔ Have face-to-face conversations 

  ➔ Talk about your day 

  ➔ Memories > Mentions

● Ink What You Overthink 

  ➔ Journal 

  ➔ Write a diary ( a page a day ) 

  ➔ Quite pages = loud Thoughts 

● It’s okay to ask for help 

  ➔Heal what hurts 

  ➔Feel your emotions not fight 

  ➔Couch Talks > Mental Spirals 

Consider This Your Digital Hug 

You’re not missing out. FOMO happens — to all of us. And that’s okay. 

You don’t need to chase every experience or aesthetic to live fully. You’re not falling behind — you’re unfolding. One step at a time. 

Not every moment needs to be posted. 

Not every plan needs to be perfect. 

It just needs to be real. And yours. 

You’re allowed to pause. 

To reset. 

To say “no thanks” — and mean it.

Now close the device. 

Exhale. 

And yeah — go touch some grass.