Are you suffering from FOMO?

Come on – you got to get with the program! Suffering from FOMO? What the heck is that? Well for those who don’t get texts from their kids or grandchildren it means Fear Of Missing Out. It is one of the biggest motivators known to man – or woman. Here Ellen de Generes describes it perfectly.

So what lengths will FOMO drive you to? Perhaps scaling Everest. Maybe you hike or climb a little bit and then you hear about those who have climbed Everest. Perhaps you go to one of those motivational talks and get all inspired. So you train and join in because you don’t want to miss out. A couple of years later you finally make it to Base Camp and this is what greets you.

But it doesn’t have to be as extreme as a climb up the tallest mountain in the world. It could just be about getting that deal on the Boxing Day sale. You line up for hours and then storm into the shop – which way? which way? what do I want? what do I need? I dunno but obviously they are practically giving things away – just look at these crowds.

I think maybe it is just human nature. We are naturally competitive creatures. That’s how we survived in the hunter gatherer stages and I don’t think things have changed that much. Who got the big screen TV and who got the woolly mammoth? Who stripped that berry laden tree and who got the last packet of toilet paper. The crazy behaviour we saw back in March and April over this commodity is a classic example. FOMO so you pile your cart sky high with toilet paper. Live and let die!

Will we experience this again when travel resumes properly? Currently ships are not yet cruising – but they will be back before you know it and will you have your place booked? Remember that ships will be sailing with reduced capacity so it is not a given that when you hear your next door neighbour has booked a cruise your FOMO will ensure that you are on the same ship – of course in a better stateroom! If you are going to do FOMO you might as well do it properly. It is not only Fear of Missing Out but FOBO Fear of Being Outdone. No good suffering through all the angst of FOMO to settle for second best. That’s just not how it works.

Once you do book your cruise be warned – you will suffer Cruise Envy. That’s when you walk down the corridor and happen to pass one of the luxurious suites – the door is wide open as it is being cleaned – so you slow down and peer inside. OMG you think to yourself. Look at that room. Damn it! That wasn’t available when I booked. Yep – good old FOMOCE – Fear of Missing Out Cruise Envy. Much better to have a dose of GTBBCSS (Got the Best Cabin Smug Smile).