Ever since social media became widespread, a bundle of new expressions and emotions took over the world. One such hotcake which picked up in the last few seasons is FOMO. Short for ‘Fear Of Missing Out’, FOMO is the anxiety of missing out on an exciting or interesting event that may currently be happening elsewhere. This millennial phenomenon which is often aroused by posts seen on social media has tied bloggers, influencers and social media enthusiasts to their phones at all times, who constantly scroll through the latest travel trends in an attempt to keep up with the ever changing world.
Though this viral fear has taken over most of the world’s population, a select few were spared. Travellers who didn’t care about the importance of having a strong social media presence continue to hop around unapologetically, calling themselves JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out) travellers.
If you think you’re unsure of which side you belong to, here are a few symptoms that prove that in an era of FOMO travellers, you’re actually a JOMO.
1. You don’t fret over peer pressure!
Do you ever find yourself saying things like:
Everyone’s roaming around the globe. Everybody’s posting pictures of extravagant vacations or exotic locations they have been to. How do they manage to travel so much? Who’s paying for their holidays?
No? Then, pat yourself on the back because the pressure of keeping up with your peers isn’t causing chaos inside your brain. If you’re happy being where you are without worrying about where someone else is currently, whether it’s in a concert hall or at an exotic location, then you my friend, are a definite JOMO! Honestly, it saves you a lot of money too.
2. Internet, what?
Let’s face it. The omnipresence of the internet has turned into a necessity. The internet keeps us connected to the rest of the world and has given birth to the constant urge of updating our travel log for others to see. It is how we can tell the world that we’re finally taking that ‘big trip’. The Internet is a drug that travellers can’t seem to let go of. Every image taken must be posted online. Thus, we must have internet connectivity wherever we go! What? You don’t feel that way? Oh, so you don’t care if there’s any internet or not while you’re travelling? Wow, that right there’s a JOMO.
3. Your photos are ‘hashtag no filter’
The joy of getting cosmetic retouches at the swipe of your fingers is a tough one to beat. At the same time, taking countless photos at a single destination to get the perfect shot. Looking like a model on Instagram, with the personality of a potato in real life takes a ton of dedication that many travellers have added to their lives. But if that doesn’t sound like you and you eat your meals without clicking a picture of it first, you’re a certified JOMO! It also helps if your social feed does not resemble your travel itinerary, and if your offline face matches the one online because, well, staying real on or off social media has to be the ultimate JOMO symptom.
4. You have a knack for privacy!
With privacy invaded and ‘alone time’ buried deep by pocket internet, trying to focus and living in the moment can be hard. Fellow travellers want to take pictures every single minute, constantly share updates from the trip while tagging you in hundreds of Check-ins, killing all the fun in the process. Are you that fellow traveller? No? Oh, then you must be the one shying away from the camera and avoiding sticking to a screen all the time. If attending a live music show without yelling about it is your thing, trust me, you belong to the JOMO club!
5. You travel to travel, nothing else!
A recent survey shows that Indians travel mostly to show off. Again, the internet and social media play a big role here. But if someone does it, does everyone have to do it? Well, you know better, don’t you? If a holiday means taking a break from life’s monotony and getting away from everyone else, then you’re a shade different from the FOMO travellers. JOMO traveller would let the world take its course while being onto something new, without seeking validation for it!
6. You enjoy your own company!
We know you love to travel. And travellers love to share their tales and experiences. Yet, this love for sharing does not necessarily make a person socialise at all times. A FOMO traveller would want the world to know of every new experience that they gain. But if you’d rather introspect and discussions within yourself are often more enlightening and satisfying than with another, you’re definitely seeking the Joy Of Missing Out. If you hold a special moment or two in your heart that you feel might not be for everyone’s understanding, continue to miss out on what others have to say about it. Let them not pollute this thought and inhale it the way you comprehend it.
7. Acknowledgement means nothing to you!
The very foundation of social media and viral posts are based on public acknowledgement. If a photo doesn’t get enough likes, it is assumed to be a bad one. If a travel story does not generate enough engagement, it must be taken down immediately. But if you don’t rely on what others think of you or your social presence, you are in a league of your own. The rules of social media don’t apply to you anymore. You travel for yourself and for your own satisfaction. If you’re happy being what you are, where you are, with whom you are and with what you have, then you my dear, have mastered the art of JOMO!
We are bound to miss out on a lot while we travel. It isn’t humanely possible to keep up with everything that happens around the universe. Hence, it’s better to pause for a moment and cherish what lies right in front of us, instead of thinking about turning it into a viral post. Travel to travel. For once, log off and try JOMO. For more details, plan a trip now, leave your phone back and look at things through the lens of your eyes. After all, it’s the best camera there ever is.
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