FoMO is the dread people feel when they’re afraid of missing a social event, an important conversation among friends, or news. A recent study shows it most significantly affects the under-30 crowd, so it’s a perfect topic to discuss here. From apps that notify you if you’re about to miss an event to rebate services that comp your Internet fees, there are ways to manage your FoMO — for both your personal and professional life — without going crazy.
IRL (In Real Life)
How many times have you shown up to work on Monday only to hear about awesome concerts and events you missed out on? Never fear: You won’t miss the next Shakey Graves concert because you’ll have Gravy. The site (formerly called timeRAZOR) promises to show you events that match your mood, location, and time frame. This way, you won’t need to do a hundred Google searches or keep an ear to the radio to hear about great local happenings. Even though Gravy is still in beta, I tried it for several cities, and it even worked for semi-obscure places like Rock Island, Ill.
For Your Existing Schedule
Even my best-laid plans go awry. There are always those days when I forget a meeting, miss a package I needed to sign for, or forget that my favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals, is playing. Luckily, I found a tool to keep me on track. IFTTT (If This, Then That) is exactly what it sounds like. It takes a trigger (package tracking, calendar event, flight information, etc.) and notifies you (email, SMS, updates your Facebook status, and more). With each “recipe” you make, your life gets a little bit easier.
On Twitter
Twitter is a fire hose of information. It would take more than 10 years to read just one day of tweets. So, how do you keep up with what actually matters to you? That’s the question that led us to start Brook, a service that sends you a daily email of the top five tweets from each person you select. It’s designed to cut through the clutter so you can get on to the more important things in life. On the plus side, I’ll never miss that really important tweet from Robin Thicke.
While Traveling
For those of us (myself included) who need to stay connected 100 percent of the time, many airlines and hotels offer Wi-Fi. However, those charges can seriously start to add up. Recently I came across Feecation, which reimburses up to $1,250 in travel-related fees each year, from checked baggage to in-flight Internet. If you travel a lot, this service will help you keep an eye on your fees, networks, and more — even when you’re in the sky.
Above All, Live Your Life!
Here’s the not-well-kept secret to dealing with FoMO: The less time you spend obsessing over feeds and devices, the more time you’ll have to actually get out and meet people, form real networks and friendships, and have unforgettable experiences. When the above resources don’t quite cut the mustard, go out and find an adventure IRL!
Mark Hodges is the CEO of Brook, a social media tool that emails customers daily with the top five tweets from each Twitter user they select. It’s designed to cut through the clutter while making sure users don’t miss out on important updates from friends, co-workers, publications, competitors, and more.
Image Credit: www.heavy.com
