From not getting to spend the whole day with your family and friends on Christmas day, to missing out on the New year celebrations.
It is no wonder that nurses can suffer from FOMO – fear of missing out!

It might be that feeling that you are missing out on an exciting activity or event you wanted to attend. You may have got invited to something you really wanted to go to but it is so last minute. You’re well thought out pre-prepared month-in-advance roster can’t account for it. You can’t seem to change your shift. So I guess you gotta just work it but in the back of your mind you’re thinking that you are missing out. Then you look at the pictures from the event rolling in…

I mean sometimes I feel like we get these feelings more intensely because of the effect of social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. I found that for me it led to a decrease in satisfaction with my life and I would pin the blame on my work. As a result, I then started to resent my job at times because I believed it was the major contributing factor to me “missing out”.

We have the tendency to compare our lives to others. We all should know by now that it is just the highlight reel we see of someone else’s life and it isn’t real. Sometimes actually thinking about things you are grateful for in your own life can be such a remarkable thing to do. I mean sure you can’t always get that day off you wanted but at the end of the day doesn’t it make you appreciate the moments you do get even more?

If you find that social media angers the FOMO beast inside you then maybe try to take a break from it or at the very least set limits on your use.

You got this! Tame the FOMO beast!!

TIP: If you celebrate Christmas move it to another day with your family. Explain to them how much it means to you to be involved.