TIME MANAGEMENT - FEAR OF MISSING OUT

Last year I wrote a blog on Time management https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2018/09/time-management-universal-problem.html and with the ever exciting and truly infectious Indian Premier League Cricket on the Telly and the equally intoxicating General Elections only weeks away managing time is getting more and more difficult!

In his autobiography (published posthumously in 1791), Benjamin Franklin wrote these words about sleep: “there will be sleeping enough in the grave.” Franklin was a firm believer in industriousness, and thought that any hour spent not being busy with something useful was an hour gone to waste. His work ethic has become a legend, a staple of American exceptionalism, but his disdain for a good night’s sleep has gone largely uncriticized. As against it Robert Owen, Welsh labor rights activist demanded“eight hours work, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest” and he was way ahead of his time.

On top of a tendency to overwork comes a more modern malady: fear of missing out (or FOMO), a social anxiety characterized by a constant desire to be connected and in the know about what others are doing, as well as a concern that you’re missing out on an opportunity – social, financial, you name it! How can you not see Chris Gayle and Andre Russell bring Christmas and Diwali to the cricket stadiums every night? How can you miss out on the latest soap opera, the Lok Sabha elections, when it is throwing up newer characters in every episode and newer drama every day! And as if that was not enough how can you avoid that incurable constant social itch that can only be alleviated by grabbing your smartphone and browsing through Twitter, Instagram or Facebook?

And all this will surely make you a member of that elite sleep-deprivation club! Researchers have studied the habbits of your group mates and have found an increased tendency to snack, especially on rubbish foods and unhealthy beverages which give a short-term energy surge. Your mates will subsequently demonstrated weight-gain and a decreased insulin sensitivity, which may trigger diabetes if left untreated.

A huge chunk of upwardly mobile Indians, who work well over 8 hours a day while trying to extend recreational time as much as possible at the expense of valuable sleeping hours, are in line for a plethora of health issues, a cycle which will not be broken unless we rethink our weekly schedule in a major way.

In 2013 the word “FOMO” was officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. This clever acronym was coined to describe that anxious feeling that can arise when you feel there is a more exciting prospect that is happening elsewhere — and unfortunately, you’re not there. How can you get over it? Dr. Aarti Gupta, Clinical Director at TherapyNest, A Center for Anxiety and Family Therapy in Los Altos, California suggests that this should be a three step approach.

1. Admit you have a problem.

Let’s get real, you cannot be everywhere at all times and always be doing the coolest thing ever. And that’s OK. Admitting and accepting that you have anxiety can feel like your secret has been unleashed to the universe and the burden is off your shoulders. You’re acknowledging the insecurity, and with that recognition you can now tackle the problem.

2. Switch off the chatter.

Turn off your phone or block the unimportant calls and contacts. Learn to redo your morning without your eyes glued to Instagram. It may not be viable to deactivate your social media accounts, but learn to limit your activity. Set aside a certain time of day to check all your social media outlets. Make this your one and only time of day to check your accounts. Find a time of day that works for you to catch up with Facebook, and stick to it.

3. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique that refers to a nonjudgmental observation or awareness that is focused on the present experience. Try this mindfulness immersion exercise: Take a mundane daily activity like washing the dishes and try to sense the muscles you use to wash, the scent of the soap, and the feeling of bubbles between your fingers. Rather than multitasking or hurrying up this task to get on to the next one, appreciate your current state of being. Mindfulness can help those with major FOMO enjoy what they are doing in the here and now, instead of yearning for what else could be.

So whether it is IPL or it is the Modi-Pappu show, you are the most important person. Sleep well, be selective with your social media and stay safe!