I spent most of my life primarily driven by FOMO (fear of missing out), even after selling Twitch.
Here’s how I learned to finally break away from that toxic cycle:
Here’s how I learned to finally break away from that toxic cycle:
FOMO is a parasite of the mind, and it is one of the biggest reasons why so many people are unhappy.
It fills you with a starvation that can’t be satiated, and distracts you from moving forward with your life.
It fills you with a starvation that can’t be satiated, and distracts you from moving forward with your life.
I remember working on my first startup and seeing all my friends partying or on vacation on Facebook.
An uneasy feeling crept itself into the back of my mind: the thought of everyone else enjoying life without me.
An uneasy feeling crept itself into the back of my mind: the thought of everyone else enjoying life without me.
I started getting filled with anxiety: ‘what if I had made the wrong career decision? My startup’s not going anywhere.’
I’ve experienced FOMO on the financial side too, where my friends had invested in unicorn companies and I missed out.
I’ve experienced FOMO on the financial side too, where my friends had invested in unicorn companies and I missed out.
The point is it never ends. There's endless things to follow and complain about no matter who you are.
FOMO is the fuel for the hedonic treadmill.
Here’s how to unplug:
FOMO is the fuel for the hedonic treadmill.
Here’s how to unplug:
1. Name it.
Either to yourself or other people - recognize that it is a normal human emotion to experience.
“I'm experiencing this fear of missing out or guilt that I didn't do something in the past.’
Either to yourself or other people - recognize that it is a normal human emotion to experience.
“I'm experiencing this fear of missing out or guilt that I didn't do something in the past.’
It is a human trait that drove us in the past to seek and go accomplish more things.
Unfortunately, social media has hijacked this and exploited it against us.
Knowing that it is natural will help you accept it and move on.
Unfortunately, social media has hijacked this and exploited it against us.
Knowing that it is natural will help you accept it and move on.
2. Think about all the times you got something you really wanted.
Whether it was something you bought, or a brand new job - think about the lasting impacts that event had on you.
You’ll find that the satisfaction from the outside world is fleeting and short lived.
Whether it was something you bought, or a brand new job - think about the lasting impacts that event had on you.
You’ll find that the satisfaction from the outside world is fleeting and short lived.
When you look at other people and wish you were in their position, it helps to go back to that memory of when you got something you really wanted:
how did that actually effect your life in a meaningful way?
how did that actually effect your life in a meaningful way?
3. Practice Gratitude
Focusing on all the things to be grateful for is a great practice to help you be happy with what you have.
Because the truth is that we are all incredibly lucky, even if you don’t always feel that way.
Focusing on all the things to be grateful for is a great practice to help you be happy with what you have.
Because the truth is that we are all incredibly lucky, even if you don’t always feel that way.
It could be the small things - I'm grateful for being healthy, and other times I think to myself that it's wonderful that I've got a cup of coffee in the morning.
I’m incredibly grateful for my family and friends.
I’m incredibly grateful for my family and friends.
If you're struggling with FOMO, one of the best things you can do immediately is to get off social media for a while and focus on yourself.
You are enough.
You are enough.
You can watch the full video I made about this topic here: youtube.com
(so you don’t get FOMO when all your friends have already seen it)
gl :)
(so you don’t get FOMO when all your friends have already seen it)
gl :)
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