JOMO and mindfulness in everyday life: The art of conscious renunciation and 4 effective strategies

JOMO is like a peaceful haven in the middle of the stormy ocean of the digital age. While the waves of information and social media to hammer relentlessly on us, offers JOMO a safe place, where we pull back, and draw new energy can regenerate.

In today's fast-paced world, we are constantly surrounded by information, and social media. Often we feel overwhelmed and stressed, because we feel the need to constantly up-to-date, and everywhere present. The fear of missing out, also known as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), has become a real challenge. 

Fortunately, there is a solution: JOMO: the joy of the waiver (Joy of Missing Out). In this article, we will show you how to JOMO can help you lead a more fulfilling and happier life.

JOMO is the answer to FOMO?

JOMO stands for "Joy of Missing Out" and is the opposite of FOMO ("Fear of Missing Out"). While FOMO describes the fear to miss something Important or Exciting, is JOMO, the positive feeling that arises when we refuse to be constantly up to date, and instead focus on what really makes us happy (Crook, 2015).

The constant accessibility and the pressure to always be online cause many people to Stress, fatigue, and dissatisfaction.

The benefits of JOMO

JOMO offers an Alternative in that it encouraged us to take us aware of the time for us to rethink our priorities, and to focus on the Essentials (Turkle, 2017).

• A Better Work-Life Balance: Thanks to the digital technologies, we are always reachable, so that the boundaries between work and private. JOMO helps these boundaries by encouraging us to take time for ourselves and to concentrate on our personal needs (Albers, 2017).
• Strengthening mental health: Constant availability and information overload can lead to Stress, exhaustion and Burnout. JOMO helps counteract this by allowing us to take our time for relaxation, mindfulness and self-care (Crook, 2015).
• Improvement of social relations: JOMO promotes genuine, deep Connections to our fellow human beings, by encouraging us to focus on high-quality interactions, instead of constantly to be online (Turkle, 2017).
• Increase life satisfaction: JOMO allows us to focus on what really makes us happy, instead of us from the flood of information and social media distract you. The result is a greater life satisfaction and a more fulfilling life (Crook, 2015).

But of course it is not all Gold that glitters. To refrain from things that may also have negative consequences.

The cost of JOMO: A critical look at the disadvantages

As with any behavior change, there are also at JOMO some of the possible costs and disadvantages, which you consider the best-case should deal with it. Here is a list of the possible challenges that can bring JOMO is:

• Social Isolation: The pursuit of JOMO can lead to isolation from friends and Acquaintances, and important social interactions and events missed. The conscious decision of social media and digital activities avert, can sometimes be as rude or disinterested be perceived, which can lead to misunderstandings.
• Increased Stress: The pursuit of JOMO can generate for you a certain amount of Stress. Because you can't, of course, be constantly mindful and present.
• Career opportunities, miss out on: If you avoid Networking Events or Online platforms pull back, you run the risk to miss important professional opportunities. This may limit your professional development and your ability to stay up to date affect. 
• Lack of personal growth: JOMO can lead to entrench yourself in your own comfort zone, rather than challenges, and to grow personally. If you turn away from certain activities, you may miss opportunities to learn new skills or meet new people that could enrich your life.
• Limited Sources Of InformationBy turning away from Online activities and social media, you could restrict the access to useful information, news and Trends. This can also result in lower support from friends and family, if you need any assistance or advice.
• Communication difficultiesThe focus on JOMO can cause you to lose the connection to the current communication methods and platforms. This communication and collaboration is not difficult, both in the private as well as in a professional environment, if you keep up with the latest technology trends.

During JOMO offers many advantages, it is important to refer to the practice, a balance and to not look at JOMO as a Supplement, as a replacement for social interaction and digital activities.

JOMO in practice

But how do we manage to transmit the joy of the bypass these have been durable in everyday life? Here are a few ideas:

Solution 1: set priorities

In order to integrate JOMO successful in your life, it is important to rethink your priorities. You ask yourself, what is really important to you is and what it is that brings you joy. Focusing on these areas, and let go of other, less important things.

Solution 2: set limits

Set clear boundariesto protect your time and energy better. For example, you can set fixed times to turn off your Smartphone (what is the great danger of Phubbing prevents), or from social media sign out.

Solution 3: practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a Central aspect of JOMO. You practice being in the present, and to focus on the object or Person is located just in front of you.

Studies show that a conscious perspective can be on the present and the regular switch Off of technology and social media, a solution for the negative effects of JOMO (Psychology Today, 2019).

A very specific mindfulness exercise that you can incorporate in your daily life, is the 5-4-3-2-1 method. This Exercise helps you to focus on your senses, and thus, in the present Moment-to anchor.

The 5-4-3-2-1 method works as follows:

1. You name five things you see can. Look around you in your environment and take be aware of what you see.
2. You name four things that you feel can. Pay attention to the sensations in your body or how different objects or surfaces to the touch.
3. Can you name three things you hear can. Listen to the sounds around you – maybe the chirping of birds, the Laughter of people, or the Wind blowing through the trees.
4. You name two things you smell can. Take a deep breath and recognize the different smells in your environment, such as, for example, the scent of freshly brewed coffee or the smell of flowers.
5. You name a thing, you taste can. If you something to eat or drink, concentrate on the flavor. If not, do you remember the taste you like.

Solution 4: time out for yourself

Treat yourself to a little time for yourself to recharge your batteries and restores your inner Balance. This can be, for example, a walk in nature, a good book, or a relaxing visit to the Sauna.

Start today, to integrate JOMO in your life, and discover the joy of the waiver. You let go of the fear to miss something behind you and focus instead on what is really important to you. Take the first step and put your priorities. You happier and more fulfilling life will thank you!

Literature

• Albers, M. (2017). Digital exhaustion: How do we gain control over our lives again. Munich: Hanser.
• Crook, C. (2015). The joy of missing out. Gabriola Island: New Society.
• Psychology Today. (2019). Solutions for the Risks of Missing Out: How to Balance Disconnection and Connection. Psychology Today.
• Turkle, S. (2017). Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. New York: Penguin Press.