How to Manage FOMO This Summer

By: Mikayla Greeley, LMSW

The sun is finally out and with it comes the strong pull to enjoy NYC’s parks, restaurants and rooftops. In contrast to the darker, colder months, when the temperature rises and sun sets later, the city comes to life with more experiences available at your fingertips. Despite feeling like you have more energy to take on such activities, it is common to feel anxiety and pressure to fill our time and make the most of the sunshine. Such worries can lead to feelings of “FOMO” or “fear of missing out.” However, here are some ways to feel calmer and in better control of our time.

Practice Prioritizing:

When it comes to making plans in the summer months, the decisions can feel endless, especially when you want to be around people who make you happy and make the most of the summer months. It can be helpful to decide what activities and experiences are important to prioritize over others. These decisions are rarely easy and if you have “people pleasing” tendencies, the desire to avoid disappointing loved ones can lead to over commitment of plans. Despite how obvious this sounds, it is important to remember that humans can’t be in more than one place at a time. While it can be difficult to say no to activities that sound enjoyable, it is important to practice prioritizing to get the most out of the time we do have.

Sticking with Self-Care & Routines:

There is plenty of research on the benefits of having a routine and implementing self-care into daily life. When feeling particularly over-extended or stressed about missing out on activities, taking a few deep breaths, going for a mindful walk or cold showering can be helpful ways to calm our nervous system. Self-care practices and routines are typically the first to go when feeling overwhelmed when schedules become more hectic. In the summer months when you are pulled in so many different directions, despite doing your best to prioritize commitments, it is still important to set aside time for YOU.

Asking for Support:

Despite efforts to keep afloat by prioritizing plans and practicing self-care, sometimes you can still get pulled under. In these moments where you feel overwhelmed and stuck, it can be helpful to reach out to loved ones who can help support you through them. It can be hard to notice that burn out is approaching which is why it is so important to recognize your limits and give yourself regular breaks. If you are noticing that the anxiety about missing out is becoming too much, such that you feel more hopeless or have less energy to make the plans in the first place, it may be time to reach out to a professional for help. Your mental health is most important and reaching out for support earlier rather than later can keep you accountable while still enjoying these longer, sunnier days.

If you are experiencing feelings of FOMO and are having trouble managing them, or just want to talk it out, reach out to hello@upsidertherapy.com today!