Hi ,

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) can hold us back from being productive, results in increased anxiety and overwhelm as you try to keep up with and do ‘everything’.

Your Inbox is overflowing because you don’t want to delete something that might be important or you might need.

You take on too much because you don’t want to miss out on opportunities, events or being involved in the latest project.

You’ve got so much going on that you don’t know where to focus first or the quality suffers as you’re constantly trying to find time for all the different tasks you have on your plate.

You put off making decisions or procrastinate because you don’t want to miss out if you make the wrong decision.

Being organised can enable you to take on more without feeling overwhelmed because you have a system and process to deal with it all.

Stick To Your Priorities

You need to prioritise like mad so you know what’s really important and what is going to make the biggest difference to your life, at work and at home.

Use priorities, categories and time to organise your tasks into important and urgent. Which tasks can you cut from your list, delegate or dump. If you’re limited on time, simplify your list, so you have more time to focus on the MOST important tasks and activities.

Ask yourself these questions:

• How does this serve me (what’s in it for me)?
• If I said ‘no’ or didn’t complete this task, what’s the impact?
• How much time do I realistically have available?
• Do I have the time, energy, resources to say ‘yes’?
• How does this task, activity contribute to my overall happiness and wellbeing?
• Is it essential or a ‘nice to have’?

If the answer to these is it doesn’t improve or enhance what you’re doing, don’t do it.

Don’t feel guilted into say ‘yes’ just because FOMO gets the better of you and you feel you’d be missing out on something if you say ‘no’.

Set Time Limits

Let’s face it, endlessly scrolling through Instagram reels isn’t going to change your life but it does drain your time and energy and missing out on the latest cute cat (or dog) video isn’t going to have a significant, negative impact on your life.

Also, feelings of FOMO created by the filtered reality of social media. It’s not real life. Spend your time doing what really matters and limit your social media time. If you use it for work, set time limits and stick to what you need to do.

Limit Distractions

If you’re easily distracted and this adds to your feelings of FOMO, remember to set clear boundaries around your work and task time. Switch off notifications, delete, minimise or time restrict apps. A useful phone feature to have Focused Work time and limit apps to certain times of the day.

Keep your phone away from your work area. You can check it in a break or when you need to use it. More often than not, mine is downstairs, away from my office. Am I going to miss a call or text? Maybe, but as I take regular breaks, it’s not going to be too long before I check.

If you get distracted by your inbox and feel the need to read every email. Simplify your Inbox down to what’s necessary. Do you really need to keep, read every one? Be ruthless. Delete old newsletters, informational emails.

If you need the information at some point in the future, you’ll usually be able to find what you need with an online search.

If you have a system to organise your information, it’ll be easier to find when you need it by looking in one place - your project, customer management system, instead of searching files, folders or endless email.

Enjoy The Present.

Often FOMO is about something that may or may not happen in the future. Be happy with where you are right now and you’ll reduce the fear that you’re missing out because you’re focused on the present.

By choosing to embrace the joy of missing out (JOMO), you’re making a more conscious, realistic decision and you're in control of your own time.

You don’t have to be all things to all people.

You don't have to say yes to every potential opportunity, just those you really want.

Next time you feel FOMO, remember those key questions to ask yourself and decide if you really are missing out or if you have the confidence to believe in yourself and manage your time accordingly.

Until next time,

        Clare