FOMO is a real thing and everyone knows the feeling. You say no to going to an event, because it seems boring and you don’t think you’ll have fun. However, later you discover that people you know are at the event and are sharing photo’s on their social media. Most people will experience some form of pain when they see this. This shows that fear of missing out is more about people than the event itself. Keep on reading to discover more about it.
Understanding How FOMO Really Works
New research shows that the heart of FOMO (fear of missing out) isn’t about missing a movie night or a camping trip. It’s the sense of being excluded from social bonding that truly stings. Even if the event itself is dull, the lost opportunity to strengthen friendships or share inside jokes can trigger a surprisingly strong emotional reaction.
The study highlights that people with anxious attachment styles, who are particularly sensitive to rejection, feel FOMO more intensely. Recalling times when they felt socially connected helped participants lower their FOMO ratings. This suggests that simple strategies like unfollowing friends on social media won’t fix the problem. This is because deeper emotional needs are driving the fear—it’s about nurturing real, secure relationships. This is something you often can only do when you go to events or parties too! Are you looking to beat FOMO or do you want to not feel so bad when you said no to an event? Then keep on reading to discover how to beat FOMO!
Beating it by Rebuilding Connection
It’s not good for you to start obsessing over every invitation or mention of a party. So, the key to beating FOMO might be rebuilding your sense of belonging outside of any single event. While doing this, we also recommend reminding yourself of something positive. This last idea will also help you with emotional security and reduce the fear of being left out.
Sometimes, skipping an event isn’t a loss—it’s a gift. The growing idea of JOMO (the joy of missing out) celebrates those moments when staying home brings peace, rest, and the confidence that meaningful connections aren’t tied to any one gathering. When you trust your place in your friendships, missing even the biggest parties wont be the end of the world. s feels a lot less like exclusion—and a lot more like self-care. So, try not to be too hard on yourself if you want to say no to an event. It is perfectly normal to not go to everything all the time. If you also make sure to nurture your relationships outside of certain events it will give you less FOMO and more freedom.
Credit:
- Image: Photo by Kimson Doan on Unsplash
- The research: ApaAPA PsycNetAPA PsycNetpsycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2025-36987-001.html–
