FOMO at Work

Thoughts for the weekend.

I took a day off last week. Like everyone, I had this real urge to keep on checking my mail when I am not working. This is when I realised that this is a kind of FOMO.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is real.

It is defined as the “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media”. This is one of the side effects of an all connected and shared world. FOMO is usually associated with social media, but it is equally applicable for our professional lives.

In professional setting the reason for this is primarily because people are afraid to miss an opportunity or afraid that their absence can delay some important tasks. It is also because people like to be continuously connected to their work to see if there are any issues that warrant their attention.

Technology has also changed the way we work. Remote working is now not only a possibility but is something which is encouraged. Emails can be accessed from mobile applications. With these advancements, it has become very easy to be connected with your work from wherever you are.

These improvements though extremely helpful have increased FOMO in the work environment. People are always connected to work. It is very common practice to check on work email before and after the working hours. Being connected during vacations is also a very common practice. What is not understood is that these practices, instead of reducing our work, result in increased stress.

Even though it feels like if you are always connected you would not miss out on a important opportunity or task, in the long run this is not helpful. As we are always connected we do not find time to de-stress. Employee being always available is not helping the employee or the employer. Over the long run, the productivity of these people is sure to go down.

Some steps to avoid this

Realize that you are not indispensable

No one in this world is indispensable. When you realize this, you can let go of something. Understand that if you are not available or reachable there will always be someone who can pickup your task.

Delegate your activities

This is one of the most important thing you can do to reduce stress. Delegate all your activities when you are not available. Let all the stakeholders know who should be contacted in your absence. This is helpful not only for the people who are working with you, but will also keep your mind in peace.

Disconnect

When you are not working or an a vacation, disconnect from all your work devices. As a rule, do not check your devices in your non working hours. This can help in reducing a lot of stress.