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How to Embrace JOMO

Nov 13, 2025

It’s late at night, and you’re half asleep in bed, scrolling through your feed. A friend is at a concert, another is on a dream vacation, and a third just got engaged. Suddenly, that feeling of anxiety overtakes your tiredness.

It’s FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), and it’s a lot more common than you think. Research shows that 69% of Americans have experienced FOMO, with the constant connectivity to social media playing a large role.

Read on to learn the signs of FOMO and how to flip your point of view to embrace JOMO (Joy of Missing Out).

What is FOMO? Fear of Missing Out explained

Have you ever refreshed Instagram or checked your notifications every two minutes? That’s FOMO.

Officially, FOMO stands for Fear of Missing Out – that feeling you get when you’re compulsively checking social media apps to see what’s new and waiting for likes or comments on your own content.

Common symptoms of FOMO include:

  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Envy
  • Loneliness
  • Relying on social media for reassurance or approval.

You’re more likely to experience FOMO from seeing what your friends are up to than from celebrities or influencers you follow.

How does social media affect your health?

What started out as a cool new way to connect with friends and family has rapidly evolved into a tool that can negatively impact your mental and physical health through:

  • Comparison culture – Constantly comparing yourself to others often leads to anxiety and self-esteem issues.
  • Doomscrolling – Excessively scrolling through negative content can increase stress and cause sleepless nights.
  • Overconsumption – Spending several hours daily on social media reduces your attention span and can cause headaches, eye strain, and other physical pain.

An estimated 210 million people around the world are addicted to social media. The more hours you spend on social media, the more likely you are to experience the negative effects.

We are just beginning to learn about social media’s impact on mental health (and physical health, too). But the link between them is clearly strong – requiring us all to be more mindful as we seek practical solutions, such as JOMO.

Embracing JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)

JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) is the opposite of FOMO – it’s the pleasure of being present and enjoying your current situation without worrying about what others are doing. This healthy response to social media overload and comparison culture can be a game-changer.

Embrace JOMO with these tips:

  • Change your focus – Focus on what you have, not on what you might be missing.
  • Be present – Live in the moment and do things that bring you joy.
  • Set boundaries – Remember that it’s okay to say no to social events.
  • Explore new interests – Discover what fulfills you and makes you happy.

Ditch your FOMO for good:

  • Limit your social media use – Turn off notifications and use screen-time trackers to manage your social media use.
  • Do a digital detox – Start with at least one “offline” hour per day.
  • Curate your feed – Unfollow accounts that trigger negative emotions and follow uplifting creators instead.
  • Replace scrolling – Replace scrolling with activities like walking or calling a friend.

When FOMO gets serious: Seeking professional help

We all feel anxious or envious of others at times. But when is FOMO a real threat to a person’s health? Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, watch for signs like:

  • Increased anxiety that significantly interferes with physical or mental health
  • Sleep loss
  • Sadness that persists more than a few weeks
  • Withdrawal from real-life activities
  • Missed days at work or school
  • Neglecting offline responsibilities

Your mental health matters just as much as your physical health. If you are feeling overwhelmed by FOMO or social media addiction, let vybe urgent care be your first step – whether you need help managing your stress, anxiety, or physical symptoms caused by mental fatigue.

All vybe locations are open 7 days a week with extended hours. Walk in or schedule an appointment online today!

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About vybe

vybe urgent care is Philadelphia’s leading independent urgent care provider delivering care to adults and children throughout the Philadelphia region. Open 7 days a week, vybe is an affordable and convenient alternative to long emergency room wait times and the limited hours of family physicians. vybe welcomes walk-ins, but appointments are available for your convenience. vybe accepts major insurance and Medicaid plans and offers full urgent care services, such as illness and injury treatment, digital x-rays, EKGs, lab testing, physicals, immunizations, and occupational medicine. vybe is fully accredited by the Urgent Care Association (UCA), which is the highest level of distinction for urgent care centers and ensures high levels of patient safety and quality. Find the medical care you need with the convenience you want at vybe urgent care locations throughout the Philadelphia area.