By Camila Castro, Mindful Travel Coach
The concept of FOMO the “fear of missing out” has become firmly entrenched within travel in the last few years. But is the angst and pressure to do all the things really worth it? Or, does it just lead to disillusionment and burnout? I would argue that what we should really be chasing, especially in our travel experiences, is JOMO “the joy of missing out”. Here’s my take on how to travel with JOMO for more rewarding and enriching experiences.
FOMO vs. JOMO
FOMO has become a real thing since the advent of social media. With everyone sharing their “best” moments across multiple social platforms, it’s no wonder that we’ve all developed anxiety around missing out on those experiences that could potentially become our best moments to then share with the world. FOMO can be particularly strong in the travel space. When we see pictures and videos of influencers in destinations we’ve always dreamed of visiting, staying at exclusive hotels, and going on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, it makes sense that we would develop not only a bit of envy but also a fear of missing out should those opportunities come our way.
This is the moment when we should pause and ask ourselves; is any experience driven by the fear of missing out on an experience worth having? Or would we be better off chasing experiences driven primarily by JOMO, the joy of missing out? At first take, this way of thinking might seem somewhat counterintuitive – after all, how could you possibly be joyful about missing out on a really cool experience, perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime experience?
But, hear me out, because there is a definite joy to be gleaned from missing out on all sorts of things, and it can mean the difference between a fulfilling and rejuvenating trip, versus a trip that you wish you hadn’t spent your money on.
The Power of JOMO
The power of JOMO hit home for me as I embarked upon my ‘summer of travel 2022’. Over the course of three-plus months, I travelled to six different countries, and I had two very different experiences between the first half of my travels and the second half of my travels. During my first two months of travel, I was filled with FOMO. But not just FOMO for what I might miss out on in the destinations I was visiting, but a fear around missing out on the regular routines I live by back home – my daily workouts, my writing sessions, my co-working hours. I was so concerned about not being able to stick to these routines, and what that would mean for my progress, that I was actually missing out on all of the amazing experiences I was having while traveling in bucket-list destinations like Mallorca, Scotland, and Cornwall.
The angst that built up because of this FOMO was stealing all of the joy from what should have been a magical summer of travel. In the one week of downtime between my Europe trips and my Africa trip, I had some space to reflect on why I was feeling so burned out up to that point. I quickly realised it wasn’t just the pace I had been traveling at or the constant change of scenery, but it really had more to do with the FOMO I had been feeling. Allowing that fear of missing out to dictate my travel experience, allowing myself to focus on what I wasn’t doing, as opposed to what I was doing, was taking me completely out of the moment and making it impossible for me to fully enjoy the experiences I was having in the present.
Once that hit home, I consciously chose to approach the second part of my travels with a healthy dose of JOMO. I made a commitment to stay present and grateful for the moment I found myself in, and to feel joy for what I was experiencing, as opposed to focusing on everything that I wasn’t doing. I decided I would listen to my intuition and honor what it was calling me towards. Basically, I gave myself permission to embrace the joy of missing out…and it completely changed my travel experience in Tanzania. Did I miss out on sights and activities that friends and blogs had told me I shouldn’t miss? Yes. But did I allow that FOMO to color my experience in this spectacular destination? No.
And, in the end, I was better off for it.
Coaching Tips for Embracing JOMO
It’s true that because the fear of missing out has become so pervasive in our modern, social-media-obsessed lives, we are bound to experience it on a fairly regular basis. But it is possible to let go of that fear and create space for a more joy-driven travel experience.
Start with the following simple tips to help you travel with more JOMO:
1. Give yourself permission to actually enjoy what you’re experiencing. Now, this might sound like a no-brainer, but when you find yourself in the throes of some pretty intense FOMO, it can be easy to forget that one of the reasons you’re traveling in the first place is to enjoy yourself. So, when that FOMO hits, take a pause, remind yourself why you took this trip in the first place, and allow yourself to feel the wonder and joy sparked by the moment you’re actually in.
2. Get curious about what your inner voice is telling you. Stay open, listen to your intuition and honour your authentic needs in the moment. It could be that the FOMO you’re feeling is driven by external factors, such as pressure from travel companions or a “top must-do in X destination” post you read in preparation for your trip. The important thing here is to remember that your experience is the one that should matter and the one you should be prioritizing.
3. Lean into a gratitude mindset. Say to yourself “I get to do this and it’s awesome”. When you start thinking in these terms, it starts to become clear rather quickly just how fortunate you truly are. So shift that “I’m missing out” mindset to an “I get to do this” mindset, and you’ll notice that suddenly everything starts to become a joy-driven experience filled with awe and appreciation, leaving little room for FOMO to take hold and ruin your trip.
4. Release the need to stay plugged into social media while you travel. Now, this doesn’t mean a complete digital detox while you’re on the road, but perhaps consider setting some limits on the time you spend scrolling through Instagram or TikTok. It can be incredibly empowering to liberate yourself from social media for a while, especially while traveling, as it will give you back your time and attention so that you can truly soak in what’s unfolding around you.
About Camila
Camila Castro is a Mindful Travel Coach. You can find her on social media under @bejourneyful or at her website, www.bejourneyful.com.
