| It’s been months since I’ve heard people (including me) humblebrag, “I’m so busy!” (and I don’t miss it.)
We have been trained to hustle. And this hustle is often fueled by our fear of missing out (FOMO), especially from exciting events paraded on social media.
The hustle culture is pervasive. According to a 2016 HBR study, busy people are perceived as high status with social mobility. Apparently when we boast about our “crazy schedules,” others assume we are in demand, which makes us look and feel important.
And then the pandemic hit, bringing our busyness to a screeching halt.
Now busy being busy feels so 2019!
Last July researchers from over 60 countries gathered to share cutting-edge insights on the science of well-being.
They explored 3 emerging pathways to happiness:
- Positive solitude: time for contemplation, reflection, creativity
- Feeling active: energetic, vigorous, and vital
- Future-mindedness: creating big dreams anchored by pragmatic plans
These pathways to happiness at once sounded aspirational. But instantly the pandemic gifted us a reprieve from FOMO and an opportunity to experience the joy of missing out (JOMO*)!
How to embrace JOMO:
- Understand the Why before the What
Why are we doing this? Why is it important? Outcome over tactics; goals over tasks
- Under-complicate things
Increase efficiency and productivity to allot time to think strategically about work and life
- Revitalize energy
Leverage exercise, food, sleep, hobbies, and spending time with people you care most about
- Pay attention to only that which you can control
Stop doomscrolling through newsfeeds
- Declutter, figuratively and literally
What is distracting you from what is important?
- Commit to a passion project
Act on an intent-based idea
Actor Tony Hale (Gary from Veep!) reflected this week, “We need to focus on what this experience is giving us vs. what it is taking away.”
We don’t need more time… we just need more joy!
© 2020. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com | www.anntardy.com
* The term JOMO was simultaneously coined by CEO Anil Dash and by venture capitalist Patrick McGinnis |
