Career FOMO and How to Avoid It

You have a good job and are actually doing fine in it. But you open LinkedIn and find your friends announcing their job promotion or moving to companies you have been dreaming of working for. It suddenly hits you, “Why does it feel like my career is going nowhere?” - this is what career FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) looks like. Career FOMO is the worry that you have been missing out on so many things in your career, while everyone else is achieving and enjoying more success than you. 

Career FOMO can significantly affect our job satisfaction and overall happiness, even leading us to burnout because we keep chasing what others are having. Don’t let career FOMO ruin your work life, here’s how you can avoid it:

1 . Take a LinkedIn Break

You cannot control what people do, but you can always control what you see. Let’s be honest, it is difficult to be truly happy for your peers when their achievements overwhelm you. If you feel like this, remember that having this thought does not make you a bad person, as anxiousness is a feeling that is hard to tackle. When your fear of missing out is exacerbated every time you open LinkedIn, then maybe it is time to take a detox from the platform. 

You may still need to login into LinkedIn, such as to update your profile or reply to business messages. But when your task is done, just sign out from that platform at once. Becoming super mature and wise by not feeling envious towards your peers’ achievements is surely easier said than done. This is why not seeing everything that worsens your FOMO is a good mitigation plan. 

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2 . Give Yourself a Pep-Talk

If the thought that you are missing out in your career still haunts you, even after taking a LinkedIn break, then it is time to talk yourself out of this anxiety. The very first step of making peace with your fear is to embrace your imperfection. Let’s not be in denial: some people are doing better than you. Swallow the hard pill that maybe you lack something your peers have, such as skill, networking, time, or simply sheer luck. Grieving over what you do not have will bring you nowhere. Accepting it, however, can bring you closer to a peace of mind. 

As difficult as it seems to be grateful when you are jealous of others, try to give yourself a pep-talk enough to make you count your blessings. Commit to making a list of one thing that makes you grateful for your current job; either about your company, your coworkers, or your overall life. For example, you are grateful that your company still allows work from home when you do not feel like commuting. You can have a zoom meeting without having to shower and while patting your cat at home. Who knows that your high-achieving peer bears the consequence of having to commute to work from 8 to 5? This way, you actually have one thing better than what they have. It is harmless to think of it, yet it can make you feel better.

3 . Grow Slowly, But Surely

If you still have the overwhelming thoughts of feeling insignificant, then it is time to do something about it. Instead of constantly complaining about why your peers are doing better than you, be like them instead. They must have done something to get to where they are in their career, so learn from them. See if they master some new in-demand skills or if they are constantly seeking opportunities. Research on what skills you can learn to level-up your career, such as software expertise, graphic design, and so on. Do this one at a time, meaning that while you try your best to live every day in your current career path, you learn new skills too.

Career FOMO often triggers the thought of resigning from your current role. This is not necessarily wrong, but before acting upon it, make sure you are well-prepared. If you are aiming for a career change or promotion, make yourself worth it. Do not resign from your current office without having a safety net; either a new job offer or sufficient emergency fund.

Everyone has different measurements in life; where you are in your career right now may not be comparable to where your friends are at. As you cannot do anything to stop others from making their way to success, you can still make yourself a way there too at your own pace. Remember to stay in your own lane. If life is a competition, it is not about you competing with your peers, but rather you compete to be better than your yesterday self. 

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