The world is different – there's no denying it. Social isolation, uncertainty, and constant change. In the blink of an eye, we had to alter our routines, adapt our plans, and learn to cope with an unusual level of unpredictability. Along the way, naturally, we sought mechanisms to alleviate the feeling of distance and continue to follow what was happening around the planet.
And so, suddenly, cell phones became our window to the outside world. A device we use to work, study, communicate, secure supplies, and have fun.
But calm down. We know that the last year was extremely atypical and transformed a large part of our lives. However, let's face it, when it comes to the excessive use of the internet and social media, the warning sign has been flashing for a while now. The anxiety of not checking the news on Instagram, the controversies on Twitter, the memes in WhatsApp groups, and the latest TikTok trend is nothing new.
Does it seem far away? Let's see now.
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UNCONSCIOUS USE
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Have you ever found yourself suddenly distracted while working, studying, or watching a movie, and then, before you knew it, you were scrolling through your phone, completely unaware of how much time had passed? Or have you ever unconsciously found yourself browsing through updates from one app to another?
We know that the situations described are neither recent nor rare. Technological acceleration has made it possible for us to carry a world of information and stimuli in the palm of our hands. Options have multiplied at an alarming rate, and we have gained access, almost in real time, to everything that happens around the world. Initially, these changes may have seemed harmless. Today, however, we realize that they are not.
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A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL
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JOMO, Joy of Missing OutJOMO (Joy of Being Outside the Box) emerged in opposition to the culture of excessive and continuous connectivity. The "joy of being outside the box," in a free translation, grew as an alternative movement that values the intentional pursuit of an offline lifestyle, a more critical look at notions of toxic productivity, and the development of deeper relationships between human beings. Its aim is to encourage people to be more aware of their own desires, interests, and dreams. JOMO is about living in the here and now.
To help you build a lifestyle based on this philosophy, we've put together a few tips for you:
- Limit your time spent on social media. ⏳
- Seek to connect with the present and open yourself to new experiences. ♀️
- Turn off notifications on your phone.
- Take a moment to reflect and write about your interests.
- Avoid using your cell phone right before bed.
Ultimately, the goal of JOMO is to encourage people to disconnect from this virtual and edited reality and return to living real life. It reinforces the idea that we are enough, that happiness cannot be bought, and that each journey is unique. It's a philosophy that seeks to reclaim our awareness of our worth, develop greater emotional clarity, and honor our history, mind, and thoughts. And so, however distant a possibility it may seem, remember: always There will be the possibility of living a different life.
