Let’s Talk About FOMO

Image via How-To Geek

It is the age old story: at one point or another an opportunity arises to take part in something that can be beneficial to you. It seems like it could be something great, but for one reason or another you decide to say no. Sometimes you forget about that opportunity and move on with your life, but other times you don’t. You get this nagging feeling of regret that you didn’t take the chance. That feeling is called FOMO.

Let's first start with explaining what FOMO means. FOMO is a slang term meaning the “Fear Of Missing Out.” It's sometimes related to an omnipresent anxiety over missing what could be a good opportunity. For artists, we experience FOMO as a part of our careers. It is a common thread; we hate missing out on opportunities and chances to take the next big leap. It seems like we all worry about whether or not we are making the right choices for ourselves when we are deciding on that next career move.

A question I think we all have is: how can I stop this fear? The seemingly obvious solution is to say yes to all opportunities. You can't experience FOMO if you say yes to everything right? Unfortunately, there is a fine line between feeling FOMO and becoming what I like to call "the yes-man."

It's really easy to fall into the category of the yes-man. Being a yes-man is all about saying yes to every opportunity that comes to your doorstep. It may sound like a good thing, but it means that you have no filter on what kind of jobs you take. Being a yes-man can affect the quality of your work, especially if you are taking on multiple projects at the same time. It can also affect your work life balance and your own health.

Image via The SAGE Method

Remember that even as an artist you do have the right to say no! Saying no is just as important as saying yes. You can always be ready to help others, but if it is a project that may stretch you too thin or you feel that you can't give your one-hundred percent, it's okay to say no. Of course, saying no doesn't prevent you from feeling FOMO, but it does prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and makes sure that you are giving your full attention to each project you do say yes to.

Let's be honest: you are going to experience FOMO in this industry, no matter what you do. But it is okay to feel like that! That feeling is a great way of knowing that you are passionate about what you do. You are not alone in this feeling either. Having fears and anxieties, especially on missing out, is just a trait of being human. FOMO is, and always will be, a part of your life whether personal or professional.