Have you ever checked LinkedIn and come across your connections sharing news about their recent promotions or moving to companies that you’ve always wanted to work for? Are you worried your career isn’t progressing as it should be or are you always looking for the next “big break”? This feeling is known as career FOMO, or the fear of missing out on so many things in your career, while it seems that everyone else is achieving and enjoying more success than you.
Experiencing career FOMO can have a significant impact on your job satisfaction, overall well-being, and can negatively affect your work life. Here are a few ways you can avoid and control this feeling:
1. Take a Break from LinkedIn
We can’t control the actions of others, or what happens to them, but something we can control is what we expose ourselves to. Sometimes, it can be a challenge to feel truly happy for your peers when their achievements overwhelm you. However, it’s important to acknowledge that these feelings don’t make you a bad person, it just means that maybe it’s time to take a break from the platform that makes you anxious and intensifies your career FOMO. By limiting your exposure to LinkedIn, a platform that may trigger your FOMO, you’ll be able to reduce comparison, decrease pressure, increase mindfulness, and gain perspective on your own situation and priorities.
2. Define your Career Goals
Defining your career goals means setting clear, specific and measurable goals that align with your interests, values and strengths in the workplace. Working on that definition can provide clarity and focus, allowing you to improve your decision-making, reduce anxiety and increase motivation. When you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve, you can focus on that, and confidently say no to opportunities that don’t align with your goals, instead of feeling like you’re missing out on something. By focusing on your own career goals, rather than the success and achievements of your peers, you can avoid the trap of career FOMO, and make progress towards your personal definition of success.
3. Build a Support System
Building a support system is one of the most important things you can do when navigating career FOMO and working towards avoiding it. Finding people like mentors, colleagues, friends and family members to support you can create a sense of belonging and can improve your communication, which can boost your performance in your job, and position you as a team player. Having a support system can provide you with guidance, advice, encouragement, and perspective on your career path and how to stay focused on your career goals and achieve them.
Final Thoughts
Career FOMO, or the fear of missing out on career opportunities, can be a real challenge in today’s highly connected world. It’s important to note that success is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and that your journey is unique, just like how everyone’s career goals are unique.
At the end of the day, letting career FOMO consume you isn’t going to ensure you’re a part of the coolest projects with the best people, maximizing your potential and/or making you feel fulfilled and happy at work. Keep growing and striving to be the best version of yourself and experience your own definition of success!