the case , you may want to take some of your photos and memories offline and keep a personal journal of your best memories , either online or on paper . Keeping a journal can help you shift your focus from public approval to private appreciation of the things that make your life great .
Seek Out Real Connections :
You may find yourself seeking a greater connection when you ’ re feeling depressed or anxious , which is healthy . Feelings of loneliness or exclusion are actually our brain ’ s way of telling us that we want to seek out greater connection with others and increase our sense of belonging . Unfortunately , social media interactions aren ’ t the ideal way of accomplishing this . In fact , you could be making your situation worse . Rather than trying to connect more with people on social media , why not arrange to meet up with someone in person ? Making plans with a good friend , creating a group outing , or doing anything social that gets you out with friends can be a nice change of pace , and it can help you shake that feeling that you ’ re missing out , as you ’ re put in the center of the action . If you don ’ t have time to make plans , even a direct message on social media to a singular friend can foster a greater and more intimate connection than posting to all of your friends and hoping for “ likes .”
Practicing Meditation & Mindfulness :
Mindfulness practices , i . e ., meditation and yoga , can be wonderful for developing a sense of calm and remaining present in the moment . By quieting your mind and focusing on your breathing , you increase your own awareness that whatever is currently causing FOMO may not be worth your energy or time . Simply taking a walk-in nature can help restore a sense of balance and purpose that you cannot get from scrolling and liking posts on Instagram .
Focus on Gratitude :
Studies show that engaging in gratitude-enhancing activities , i . e ., gratitude journaling or simply telling others what you appreciate about them , can lift not only your spirits but those around you . This is partly because it ’ s harder to feel as if you lack the things you need in life when you are focused on the abundance you already have . Moreover , making others feel good makes us feel good .
Going to Therapy :
If your fear of missing out has severely affected your daily life and functioning , therapy is a good option to help you regain clarity and balance . For instance , cognitive behavioural therapy ( CBT ) is one version of talk therapy where a therapist can help you recognize triggers for anxious or depressive thoughts and then help you create better ways to cope with them .
If you would like help in addressing a fear of missing out , please text me at ( 416 ) 805-6155 or email me at ; lesley @ timbol . ca so that we can address your mind reading and help you achieve an overall level of life satisfaction with conscious intention and appreciation .