December 10, 2021

It’s Friday night. You’re watching your roommates getting ready, trying on different variations of the same outfit, perfecting their hair and makeup, and talking about their plans for the night. Not you though. You’re bottled up in bed with tissues and NyQuil. “Are you sure you don’t want to come out with us?”, they ask. What a silly question, of course you do. But you reluctantly refuse, and your nights take two separate paths. Seeing them post together on their Snapchat stories and their Instagram pages after your third hour of scrolling through TikTok alone, it hits you: FOMO. 

FOMO, aka the Fear Of Missing Out, is something every girl goes through. When you’re sick, or you have a midterm on Monday that you really should be studying for, it can be hard to stop yourself from going out when all you can think of is the fun your friends are going to have without you, the memories you won’t be a part of. The FOMO can get so intense that we sometimes ignore those things that should be making us say no. 

While staying in when it feels like everyone else is not is no easy task, sometimes it’s necessary. And it’s okay! You have a lifetime to make more memories with friends. And if you have any reservations holding you back, maybe the memories you would’ve made that night would be tainted by those thoughts in the back of your mind about calculus, or the feeling of your sore throat. It’s a lot easier to have a good time when there’s not something else stressing you out. 

The opportunity costs are something to consider here. Would you rather look back on Saturday night and say, “Oh I wish I didn’t go out, I feel so unprepared for my midterm now”, or “I’m sad I didn’t come with on Saturday, but after I pass my midterm I’m excited to celebrate this weekend!” “I feel even more sick than I did before Friday night”, or “I’m so glad I got over my cough, I’m ready for this Friday!”. It can be hard in the moment to realize what decision will benefit you more in the long run, especially with the presence of FOMO hovering over your shoulder. But it is important to always make sure YOU are a priority. It might seem like being with your friends is a priority, but maybe a night in is what you really need. 

And staying in doesn’t mean you have to sulk in your FOMO. Treat yourself! Have a self-care night, order some pizza, watch the Netflix show you’ve been waiting to start. Try to appreciate the time you have to yourself: it should not be a punishment to stay in. Alone time can be equally as enjoyable as time with friends, if you do it right! You can have a good night without your friends, and know that they’ll be waiting for you next time. And chances are, it’ll be even more fun when you’re ready to go out.