November 8th, 2024

Embracing JOMO

Finding Joy in Prioritising What Matters

Find joy in missing out. Focus on what matters in the physical world.

In the past few months, I’ve taken a deep dive into understanding what truly matters in my life. One thing that stands out is recognising the importance of distinguishing between what deserves my attention and what doesn’t. At work, especially during busy seasons, I make sure to redefine my priorities. This often means setting aside my personal ventures, like blogging and maintaining online social connections, in favour of maintaining focus.

This requires going into radio silence mode, cutting off social media distractions. It’s a maturity thing, something that helps in maintaining a balance. For example, I have been off work for the past two weeks. In that time, I have written five blogs (some will be published soon), completed over fifty plus personal and home tasks, as well as catching up on interactions over social media. As I return to work, I know I will probably avoid social media, avoid using my phone as much as possible and gaming will be a definite no-no. Years ago, I would hate the idea of missing out on the things I love so much, but now I am focused enough to appreciate their absence.

Interestingly, what used to be a persistent fear of missing out, FOMO, has transformed into an embrace of JOMO — the joy of missing out. JOMO is about finding happiness and satisfaction in missing certain activities and focusing on what’s essential for oneself. Steering away from endless blogging and social media updates, I’ve turned towards self-care and ensuring my work gets the attention it demands. It’s about prioritising the essential over the negligible.

JOMO works better if you focus on the following: Sleep, mindfulness practices (journaling / breathing / meditation), meeting people in person, exercise, and diet.

Adopting JOMO allows you to stay true to who you are and what really matters to you. It’s a self-affirming journey toward authenticity and alignment with personal values. It’s wisdom I wish I’d embraced earlier in life, understanding the depth it brings to daily existence.

To sum it up, JOMO has significant positives. It boosts productivity and focus, enhances engagement in personal relationships, and contributes to emotional and physical well-being. For me, it represents a forward path, offering balance and clarity in the fast-paced world we live in.

If you are worried about losing followers, online friends and acquaintances, don’t worry. The ones that truly matter will stick around.