Battling FOMO: Travel & Everywhere Else

Last updated on May 13th, 2020; Published on July 30th, 2017

You’ve probably heard of the term ‘FOMO’ or maybe you haven’t. It means “Fear of Missing Out” and it is essentially the anxious feeling you get when you think something interesting is happening somewhere else and you’re missing out on it.

As someone who loves to travel but hates the actual process of air travel, I am driven to travel fast, packing my holidays with every single activity that my new city or country offers. Sometimes, I plan my holidays this way because I genuinely want to see or do those things that the new city offers and also because I am not sure if I’ll ever get another chance to see/do them again. But other times, it’s just a bad case of FOMO.

I worry about coming back home, scrolling through social media and seeing that I have missed out on something exciting, especially if said exciting thing happened in a place I’ve been. And what’s worse, it’s not related to just travel alone. It applies to almost every aspect of our daily lives.

I know the feeling I get when I feel like I should be in a certain place or phase in life or be doing certain things. Obviously, this feeling sucks! But I think to myself “why sink into a dark hole when I can be living my best moment NOW?” Because with FOMOs, you’re literally missing out on the present and that isn’t really living.

And so, I’ve listed out a few tips to help combat this feeling and to inspire you (and I) to live our best in the moments we’re presently in.

Quiet the Noise

Social media seems to arouse FOMOs more, so how about you switch off the phone every once in a while. Social media represents only an aspect of our lives and the quicker we understand that, the better. I wrote a post once about the low lights of my travels, about how it hasn’t all been rosy but I don’t put up morose pictures on IG or Facebook. Why would I? I’m not trying to project a false life but pictures are literally the last thing on my mind when I’m feeling down.

I find many social media pages inspiring – making me want to be a better version of myself but when I find myself feeling like I’m missing out on life in general (because of what I see), I step away, get my thoughts back in order, look for people or activities that lift my spirit and channel my thoughts into more productive things.

Count your blessings

There are so many things to be grateful for if you would just look around you. Even being here, reading this crappy post is something to be thankful for. You’re alive and you have data! Seriously, you don’t even have to think too much about it. Someone else is currently praying to be where you are right now.

Do more with what you have

If you love to travel, don’t wait until you’ve got a million dollars before you decide to explore places. Make the best use of what you have. I have travelled to different countries with as little as N15,000, you can actually do more with less. If you can’t afford to explore places that are far away, how about you explore your own country, city or neighbourhood? Travel is never only about a place. It is an experience and you have the power to create the best experience wherever you choose to explore.

Focus on what makes you happy

Look inward, not out, for your happiness. Find what makes you genuinely happy and stick with it – as long as it isn’t harmful (Just thought I should put that out there! :))

Lastly, Give life your best shot NOW!