Leaning into FOMO…
We’re at the time of year where many fortunate people go out into the world to travel and have adventures. And yes, I’ve been on a trip this summer (I wouldn’t classify it as a holiday, per se, but I was able to get away). And inevitably, there’s that feeling when you come back from a trip and fall into a case of post-holiday blues (maybe you’re lucky enough to avoid these feelings, but I certainly am not). Once I had my jet lagged sorted, I began obsessing about new places to go (especially with the Eid break on the horizon). I thought of Europe, of driving to Oman, of going to the Maldives…all of which were silly ideas given that we had just returned from a long trip.
And last week, a light switched on. Now, it’s still a daily struggle not to wish I was tagging along with my friends (who, by the way, are quite the world travelers), but I decided I could still get a lot done in July and it was silly for me to mope around, get jealous and basically be unproductive.
My main points of focus will be:
Get back into volunteering! I’ve been away from K9 Friends for too long.
Writing! My plan is for 1,000 words a day on The Queen 2. I’ve gone back and forth about when to start editing the final draft of the Queen 1, but I think it will be best to get back to it once I’ve finished the sequel (which, if I stick to the schedule, should be near the end of July — another 30K or so… Insh’allah!)
Get on top of all my reviews for A to Za’atar — I’m still two behind from my trip home, and I know I’ll have three more this week.
Pitch more. As my food blog is moving along quite nicely, I want to stop deleting the press releases that come my way and make more plans to do something about them. The summer is traditionally a slow period in the Middle East, but it’s no reason I can’t stay on top of my foodie game.
You know all that stuff you put off for a ‘rainy day?’ Well, in 45C heat, I’m trapped inside and have been going through a few projects that have been overlooked. Basically, I’m getting all my little duckies in a row.
Excercise. Daily. I’ve also decided to step up my game and commit to one class a week (I happen to enjoy Flywheel and want to get into the habit of going at least once a weekend). With a trip to Bali planned for September, I want to feel better about myself in a bikini.
Cut back on the booze. With everyone out of town, there’s a lot less focus on going out, which makes this quite a bit easier (oops, Eid plans).
It may sound silly to you, but spending time with my sweet kitty, Nubbins. She’s getting old, and I want to make sure she’s feeling lots of love (brb, cuddle break).
Enjoying this time for what it is — down time. Not every moment of every day of every week has to be spent doing something amazing. It’s okay to read a book, get caught up on laundry, or prep food for the week. It’s okay to lose myself in a well-done television series or skip a few things on my to-do list in a week.
While comparison can be the thief of joy, I think it’s more positive to think, ‘I may not be there now, but I’m definitely going to go to that place/restaurant/venue in the future.’
I’m hoping everything above will remind me that I have an awesome life, and I don’t need to be so worried about comparing myself to all the amazing things others are doing.
Do you have FOMO? How do you deal?
