How to Deal with FOMO in a World of Summer Highlight Reels
- BeWellAdmin
- Jul 14, 2025
- 2 min read
It might just be me, but summer can sometimes feel like a season packed with pressure.
There’s this unspoken expectation to be outdoors, stay social, travel somewhere exciting, “make memories you’ll never forget” … and the list keeps growing. Then you open Instagram or TikTok and boom – it suddenly seems like everyone’s at a beach, a music festival, or on a spontaneous trip that looks straight out of a movie.
It’s easy to feel like you're missing out – and that feeling has a name: FOMO, or fear of missing out.
FOMO doesn’t just come from wanting to join in. It can also stem from comparison – the sense that your summer isn’t as exciting, productive, or “aesthetic” as someone else’s. But here’s the truth: social media shows us moments, not realities. Most people don’t post the slow, quiet, or awkward – “I accidentally waved back at someone who wasn’t waving at me and then pretended to check my phone for no reason” moment. And yet… we’ve all been there.
I know I’ve definitely had times where I questioned if I was doing summer “right.” But I realised some of my most meaningful days weren’t flashy or shareable – they were quiet mornings with coffee, catching up with a friend, or watching the sunset by the pier. Moments that actually felt like me.
Still feeling like you don’t know how to stop the comparisons? Here are a few things you can do to kick the FOMO and embrace the beauty of the mundane (tried and tested, I promise):
Focus on how you want to feel, not what you think you should do. Ask yourself: What would actually feel-good today? Rested? Connected? Creative? Then build your day around that, even if it’s simple.
Make a “feel-good” summer list. Think small joys: solo walks, iced lattes that cost too much but spark joy, trying that one YouTube yoga video you saved in 2021, or just lying on the floor dramatically with a podcast playing.
Give your feed a break. If scrolling leaves you drained, that’s a sign. Even a one-day break can shift your mindset back to the present.
Practice small gratitude moments. Write down one good moment from your day. It doesn’t need to be deep. Sometimes, “I perfectly toasted my bagel and didn’t burn it this time” is a win worth celebrating.
FOMO fades when you stop looking outward and start tuning inward. Your summer doesn’t have to be loud to be fulfilling. Some of the best memories aren’t planned, posted, or even talked about - they’re just felt. And if you’re finding it hard to shake the pressure, remember: you’re not alone. FOMO, comparison, and burnout don’t disappear just because the semester ends.
If you're looking for ways to feel more grounded, connected, or supported this summer, check in with Student Wellness Services. Whether it’s a Peer Wellness Coaching session or booking a MUSE biofeedback mindfulness appointment - a guided session that helps you calm your mind and refocus - support is always within reach, even when campus feels quiet.
Sometimes, taking care of yourself means letting go of the pressure to keep up - and just letting yourself be.
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