GET YOUR JOMO ON, FORGET FOMO FOR HIPSTERS
We have all heard of FOMO: fear of missing out. But have you heard of JOMO? This is the joy of missing out. Because nobody can be everywhere all the time, and that’s ok. I can’t take naps anymore because I have too much FOMO. I do, however, turn my phone off in movies and during dinners because of JOMO. That’s what the hipsters are doing and they’re on to something. So this summer and Fall let’s try to lean into JOMO, and just take a breath and some time for ourselves. Here are some tips on how to do that:
1. Acknowledge that you probably have a technology addiction. If you have a smartphone, you use it like people use slot machines. The instant gratification is the same so the addiction is the same too.
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2. Monitor your digital usage and establish a basic awareness of how (and how much) you are using technology. It’s like eating healthy: it’s not always fun, but it’s integral to a healthy lifestyle.
3. Manage what people expect from you in terms of responses. This means during the weekdays AND weekends. Set expectations that you might not be able to respond to things right away and start to let yourself off the hook more. You don’t have to get back to that email this second. You just don’t.
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4. Make choices, don’t just do things without thinking. Doing things with intention is always more meaningful than doing things passively. So the next time you are about to sit down and binge another Netflix series, think about all the other things you could be doing with your time, and if, at the end of that, you still want to watch, go ahead. At least the choice was made with intention.
5. Force the big tech companies to help out. They talk about being do-gooders all day and all night, so make them do good for you too. They are taking steps to do this now, but reaching out and proclaiming them responsible can’t hurt.
