Tablets, iPads, smartphones…all those big presents from Christmas.  And now here we are suggesting that you put them all away!  It’s not about becoming a hermit, but rather going on a digital diet in order to enjoy every moment and improve our wellbeing.  Welcome to JOMO.

What is JOMO?

JOMO is the acronym for the Joy of Missing Out, or enjoying what you’re doing in each moment without worrying about what everyone else is doing.  JOMO is a sociological phenomenon which is a response to FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out, the fear of being “out of the loop”, or not being the “coolest”.  Imagine you’re at home on Saturday night, enjoying a film that you’ve wanted to see for ages in peace.  But then you look at your phone and you see that your friend posted on Instagram about their dinner at a fashionable restaurant, another is tweeting about the latest play they went to…and suddenly your plan doesn’t seem so great.  FOMO is not new – we have all gone out at one time or another just because we were afraid of missing out on something major  – but it has been exacerbated by technology and social media.

JOMO invites you to forget all that, to stop asking yourself every 5 minutes what is happening outside if it doesn’t matter to you.  It’s got a hint of mindfulness, of thinking about the here and now, of focusing our 5 senses on what we are doing and not spying on what others are doing through the peephole that social media puts within constant reach.  Because there will always be something better to do, but the important thing is to accept that and be able to see that there is always something to enjoy in every situation we are in.

100,000 dollars for a phone-less year

That is the reward being offered by the Vitaminwater company to somebody that is capable of spending a year without touching their smartphone and proving it (lie detector test included).  But it’s not the only reward for the brave people who are game enough to try it.  Psychologists agree that reducing our dependency on technology contributes to a reduction in anxiety and stress.  Embracing JOMO will improve your emotional and physical wellbeing.  Because we also need to recharge our batteries and take a break from the information overload that surrounds us.

Even technology giant Google has put initiatives in place to encourage healthier consumer habits.  “Great technology should improve our lives, not distract from it”, Google states on its digital wellbeing page where it discusses tools which limit app use or suggest periodic breaks.  It’s about conscious use of technology, not going back to the stone age.

 

JOMO in interior design: less technology

JOMO invites us to enjoy the moment without feeling guilty for not participating in one of the thousands of options in our city.  Signing up to this trend will probably make you pay more attention to what is around you.  From enjoying a walk in nature without seeing it through your mobile screen to staying at home in pyjamas and slippers and taking part in the nesting trend.  But to make sure you want to stay home, the space must be relaxing, and above all, cosy.

Your house is your JOMO temple and you can transfer this philosophy to decorating by following a few simple steps:

• Use soft colours: pastels, natural colours, and wood will help you create a peaceful environment that promotes relaxation.
• Unplug: after paying an arm and a leg to install wifi, now is the time to disconnect it.  Hide your computer, your tablet, and your phone in a drawer.  And no Alexas or Siris!
• Look for warmth: wool, velvet, linen…surround yourself with comfortable furniture and use fabrics to create warm environments.
• Create space for togetherness: it’s the perfect time to start dinners at home with friends again, to create tables set with care, and to put that open-plan kitchen you wanted so much to good use.
• Create spaces for you: a pleasant reading spot next to the window, a terrace garden…places to spend moments that are just for you.