By Andriana Simos.
HAVE you ever received a last minute text from a friend asking you to go out for a coffee? Did you say you were busy even though you were actually sitting at home in your pyjamas binge watching the latest movie on Netflix?
No judgement here. Thousands of Australians are doing the same. They are releasing their Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and embracing the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO).
JOMO is the new craze for disconnecting, opting out and feeling okay in the moment. Being in this state of mind means you are entirely happy with your present and what you are doing in the here and now. It’s all about taking ownership of your own life.
“Aussies are now having some of their most memorable nights at home with 50 per cent saying they have more fun staying in than going out,” Louise Adams, clinical psychologist of Treat Yourself Well, says in a recent article.
“We’re perfecting the art of saying ‘no’ and starting to put ourselves first… Modern life is so incredibly busy and it’s easy to overlook the importance of downtime. Sometimes you just need to order your favourite meal, sit down on the couch and relax with a book or your favourite TV series or movie.”
But what are the consequences?
Louise says JOMO only becomes a problem if it’s happening all the time.
“It’s okay to let other people down if you need to look after yourself. It becomes a problem if the cancelling is impacting on your relationships. If it’s happening regularly, ask yourself why it’s so hard to stick to these plans,” she says.
SO, the next time you receive a last minute text asking you to go out, don’t feel guilty saying no. In today’s society where everything is always full steam ahead, JOMO is a great chance to take a step back and smell the roses (pardon the cliché).
*Originally published on BLLC*
Simos Standpoints 