Do you remember that Instagram picture of your friend on top of the Eiffel Tower? How about the Snapchat story of your other friend surfing at the beach? What did you feel when you saw those posts? If your answer is FOMO or “Fear of Missing Out”, then you are not alone.
In today’s connected society, we live attached to our phones as if they were our most valuable possession and according to the Pew Research Center, seven-in-ten Americans currently use social media. This number is alarming because in the midst of seeking a more connected world, we have created a more disconnected world with our surroundings.
Here are three things you can do to start living a more meaningful life outside of social media:
1) Foster Intentional Relationships
We often think that we are catching up with our friends just by following them on social media, liking their posts, or commenting on their photos. We often think that this is just enough to let them know that we are still present, but is this truly enough? In order to live an intentional life, you must go out of your comfort zone and reach out to the people you care about. Try calling that friend you haven’t spoken to in months or visiting that friend you see in social media all the time. By fostering intentional relationships, you will learn that social media does not compare to the gratification of sharing real connections with the people that are meaningful to you.
2) Create Your Own Standards
Learning that nobody is perfect is wonderful. We all have different lifestyles, preferences, and priorities. Creating your own standards means measuring up to nobody else but yourself. Even though you feel people are living the life you wish you had, you must understand that we are all in different seasons of our life, and therefore you should aim to stop comparing and start developing the life you want to live. This development can translate to feeling happiness when others do well instead of envy, or seeing the good in others as an inspiration rather than a cause for frustration. Try reflecting on your reactions when you start comparing yourself to others in a negative way. Remember that you only see what most people want you to see and that no matter what you do, the only life you get to live is your own.
3) Have Fun
At the end of the day, we don’t miss out on the things we are not aware of when we are too busy having fun. Simply put, look for an opportunity to bring joy to your life. Making the time to do the things you are passionate about will only show you that living a happy life is not impossible. Try to start that new hobby you always thought about, plan that trip you never did, or read that book you said you would. Develop a life outside of social media and use this as a tool for your well-being.
Today I challenge you to leave social media for a day and comment on my post about your experience the day after. If you are even bolder, I challenge you to leave social media for a week. If you are thinking, “that’s too hard, I don’t want to miss out on all the posts”, believe me, it’s possible and I’ve done it. Let me know how it goes for you!