Doing Less and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Posted on August 26, 2022 by Karen Gonzalez Rice, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
How to embrace doing less with confidence and intention, even when you’re afraid of missing out.
When we contemplate doing less, saying no, and living at a more reasonable pace, we may feel a rising sense of urgency and a fear of missing out.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that you’re at or beyond capacity, and you begin to consider canceling, quitting, or just saying no to a commitment or task. At that moment, resistance kicks in: you start to worry about letting someone (or yourself) down, losing an opportunity, or making the wrong decision.
When you feel that tension, take a tiny break. Take a short walk, get a drink of water, or close your eyes. Ground yourself by considering these questions:
—What appeals to me about doing less right now?
—What are the barriers to choosing what I know is easier, faster, or simply less?
—What is the impact on me and those around me when I choose to operate above my capacity?
—Who do I need to be to do less with confidence and intention?
From this place of confidence and intention, decide where you can do less for the next hour (or 10 minutes, or day, or week). This may feel uncomfortable! If you start to feel overwhelmed, or begin to worry about missing out, try out this mantra: “I trust myself to know and act on what is most important this week.”
