10 FOMO-born motivations that drive us

FOMO is often misconstrued as a simple envy of others’ experiences or a feeling of exclusion when friends have fun without us. But here’s the truth: FOMO is far more profound and significant than that. It is a deeply rooted and consequential part of our culture, society, and psyche. It’s an existential crisis that arises from two interconnected realities.

First, we’ve got this supercharged expectation that we can be anything, have everything, and squeeze every last drop out of life. Second, we’re bombarded with endless tantalizing possibilities that seem just within reach but often, also just out of grasp. FOMO sprouts from the belief that our self-worth and happiness are directly tied to our success in grabbing every opportunity, creating psychological pressure. This leads us to a troubling concern that we’re somehow missing out on life itself.

FOMO isn’t just a driver of behavior. It’s a force that shapes the expression of our basic human needs. It’s like an internal GPS constantly rerouting us toward what we believe will lead to a more fulfilling life.

The Unique Nature of FOMO

What sets FOMO apart? Unlike typical fears about avoiding adverse outcomes, FOMO is about the anxiety of missing out on positive experiences. We don’t fear that something undesirable might happen, but something desirable might not. FOMO is not a lurking monster under the bed but rather an internal call that inspires, energizes, and propels us to fully embrace our existence and optimize our precious time on Earth.

Ten Typical Motivations Driven by FOMO

FOMO propels ten motivations you’ll probably recognize in yourself or those around you. These motivations shape our concerns, priorities, and actions in various aspects of our lives. They highlight the universal nature of FOMO and the shared experiences it brings, making it a topic of significant relevance today.

1. Maximizing Time and Seizing Every Moment

We’re all acutely aware that time is a precious resource. FOMO amplifies this awareness, driving us to cram as much as possible into every day. We become adept at multitasking, balancing careers, hobbies, and social activities. We chase after new experiences, always fearful that each day we don’t seize is lost forever. This urgency compels us to fill our schedules, switch between tasks, and even juggle between parallel relationships and careers.

Our fear of missing out manifests in two ways. First, some opportunities are fleeting, and we worry we might miss them if we don’t act fast enough. Second, each day we don’t capitalize on opportunities that matter to us feels like a day wasted. At its core, FOMO is a constant reminder to seize every moment, relish life, live to the fullest, realize our potential, and amass experiences that boost our self-perception and sense of achievement.

We zap between TV channels and use our smartphones, tablets, and laptops simultaneously. We seek technologies, products, and services that save time or allow us to accomplish more.

2. Insatiable Appetite to Taste Life in its Myriad Flavors

FOMO makes us tireless explorers. We’re constantly looking for the next thrill and new thing to taste or experience. This drive keeps us saying yes to new experiences and new adventures, from exotic travel to sampling unusual cuisines. We want to taste as many flavors of life as possible, knowing there’s always more to discover. FOMO invigorates our need for mental and sensory stimulation, keeping the sense of wonder and excitement alive.

We explore nature through hiking, camping, or engaging in adventure sports like skydiving or scuba diving for unique thrills. We take up activities and learning opportunities outside our comfort zone or field of expertise. We participate in festivals, exhibitions, concerts, and other events that offer novel and enriching experiences. We are curious about lifestyle options, different cultures, and foreign creeds and sometimes wish to experience them.

We crave the latest more than the old, giving rise to a behavioral trend called “Newism,” a behavioral megatrend fueled by our constant desire for novelty, innovation, and unique experiences.

As shoppers, we are inclined to buy products and services that offer new experiences or promise to introduce us to unexplored territories. We are attracted to and engage with brands that provide an experience, not just a product, through interactive and immersive marketing campaigns.

3. Seeking Instant Gratification

Patience is so last century. FOMO demands immediacy — we want what we want and want it now. This impatience leads us to make snap decisions, favor quick info bites over deep dives, and jump on limited-time offers without a second thought.

FOMO hates waiting! This motivation is about getting what we want when we want it. It’s a desire for immediate fulfillment and satisfaction in a quickly moving world. Patience feels like a lost art replaced by the constant pursuit of immediacy.

FOMO instills a sense of urgency and impatience, stemming from the worry that waiting and delaying might mean missing out on opportunities for happiness, success, or social inclusion and the risk of being left behind or out of the loop.

We make quick decisions without extensive deliberation to act on desires or solve problems immediately. We expect an immediate response and feedback in our interactions in personal and professional contexts. We prefer quick, digestible formats of information and entertainment, such as short videos, summaries, or highlights, rather than deep dives or long reads.

We often purchase items on a whim, driven by the fear of missing out on limited-time offers or exclusive products. The allure of limited edition or time-sensitive products and fleeting experiences is hard to resist. We actively respond to marketing that emphasizes urgency. We participate in time-sensitive shopping events, flash sales, and pop-ups. We use the buy now pay later services. We opt for next-day or same-day delivery services to obtain products as quickly as possible, even at a higher cost.

The YOLO (You Only Live Once) trend is another prime expression of this motivation. YOLO emphasizes living in the moment and seizing the day, often leading to impulsive and spontaneous decisions. Whether booking a last-minute trip, splurging on a luxury item, or diving into new experiences without overthinking, YOLO captures the essence of seeking instant gratification. It’s about prioritizing immediate joy and fulfillment over long-term planning, driven by the belief that life is short and should be lived to the fullest.

4. Staying Always On and NOW-focused

The fear of missing out makes us hyper-focused on the present. We live for real-time updates, instant messaging, and live-streamed content. This “Nowism,” a behavioral megatrend, keeps us in touch with the ever-flowing stream of information and social interactions. We want to be in the know, part of the conversation, even when it means sacrificing privacy and intimacy. The rapid pace at which news, trends, and conversations evolve online intensifies the apprehension of missing crucial updates that could affect one’s social standing, knowledge level, or emotional well-being.

We are “NOW-focused,” alert to whatever is happening NOW. “The Power of Now” and “Seizing the Moment” concepts are more multifaceted than merely spiritual dictums. We emphasize the present moment, real-time updates, and live experiences across various aspects of our lives. This fascination with the “now” is evident in our daily behavior and consumption patterns. In communication, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram have become increasingly popular, allowing us to engage in real-time conversations and share live updates with friends and family. Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter prioritize real-time content, with users eagerly sharing and consuming live stories, tweets, and trending topics. The rise of live streaming services like Twitch and YouTube Live has transformed how we engage with entertainment, enabling us to watch and interact with our favorite content creators in real time. We purchase products in real-time during live-streamed shopping events or influencer endorsements. Similarly, the popularity of live events such as concerts, sports matches, and festivals demonstrates our desire to be part of shared in-the-moment experiences.

5. Being Synchronized, Staying Current and Relevant

FOMO drives us to keep up with the Joneses — or, more accurately, the entire internet. We want to be in sync with our social circles, up-to-date with trends, and part of every viral moment. This motivation turns us into early adopters and trendsetters.

FOMO motivates us to stay adaptable and woven into the ever-changing fabric of our communities, social circles, and broader society. This motivation is about maintaining social bonds, cultural capital, and a sense of affiliation and group identity. We have an insatiable need to keep up with trends, fashions, memes, viral gestures, and slang and be synchronized with whatever our social circles do. We participate in social media challenges. Being “in” and up-to-date gives us a sense of belonging and involvement. It’s our way of showing the world, and maybe ourselves, that we’re relevant and engaged in the evolving social landscape.

As a result, we are alert shoppers, buying the latest fashion gadgets and products to align with current trends and social norms. Early adopters strive to be among the first to purchase and use new technologies or products, essential for maintaining a cutting-edge profile. Early adopters are often seen as trendsetters and opinion leaders. Their influence on social media and online communities drives more people to adopt novelties early. We are attentive to reviews, influencer endorsements, and social media to make purchasing decisions that align with what’s currently popular or recommended.

6. Seeking Continuous Life Upgrading

This motivation reflects an underlying expectation to improve our lives continually. We upgrade our tech, cars, houses, and sometimes even partners. We push towards career advancements, more income and wealth, and improved social status. We are in an endless cycle of seeking improvements and enhancements, always believing that satisfaction lies just one upgrade away. FOMO gives us a sense that there’s always a more desirable version of whatever we have.

This motivation has spurred the PREMIUMIZATION megatrend, the growing consumer preference for higher-quality, premium products and experiences over more commonplace alternatives, even though they come at a higher price point. We also opt for brands that provide clear pathways for upgrading products or services over time.

7. Striving for Ongoing Personal Growth

FOMO aligns with our need for self-actualization and drive to evolve, expand our horizons, and realize our fullest potential. It whispers of the greatness within us, waiting to be unleashed. We want to feel capable and proficient in various areas of life. We are concerned that we might miss opportunities for self-improvement that could lead to a more fulfilling life.

We regularly set personal and professional goals and actively work towards achieving them. We strive to push our limits, take classes and online courses to learn new skills, watch informative videos, adopt new technologies, go to therapy, download self-bettering apps, attend workshops, or seek out mentors. We search for direction, purpose, and meaning and adopt a growth mindset. We work out, practice healthier lifestyles, and buy sophisticated beds that promise better sleep. All these are driven by the belief that an even better version of us is waiting to emerge.

8. The Drive for Frequent Changes

FOMO urges us to ask often, “What else is out there for me?” and triggers a renewal urge. We live in disquiet that there might be something better, more fulfilling, or more exciting beyond our current choices or experiences, which often leads us to change jobs, careers, apartments, or relationships more frequently than previous generations.

We explore identities to express different facets of ourselves by experimenting with personal styles and lifestyles. We explore interests and hobbies. We relocate within a country or internationally to experience other cultures and environments. We introduce frequent changes in appearance, clothing style, accessories, haircut, hair color, and tattoos and undergo aesthetic treatments. This quest for novelty and renewal reflects a deep-seated belief that change is synonymous with growth and vitality. Change gives us a feeling of being alive.

9. Keeping Our Options Open

Commitment? FOMO says no thanks. FOMO hates a closed door. This motivation is all about the love of possibility. Making final decisions can feel like losing all the paths we didn’t choose, and there’s an apprehension that committing to one choice may preclude potentially better opportunities in the future. Whether picking a career path or settling down with one partner, FOMO can make us a bit commitment-phobic. We delay major life decisions, postponing marriage, buying a house, or starting a family. We prefer to rent or lease rather than purchase. We are reluctant to commit to long-term plans and avoid making long-term contracts. The desire to maintain flexibility and prevent the finality of choice reflects our deep-seated need to optimize our life experiences and maximize potential gains.

In recent decades, we have developed psychological ownership over our options in various life areas. Our options appear to us like assets. Inevitably, we miss or forego many possibilities, and because of this psychological ownership, it feels like losing an asset, arousing our loss aversion. The current attractiveness of stock options as compensation is fascinating in this context.

As shoppers, we frequently use free trials and return policies to explore products without making a final decision. We make impulsive purchases with the comfort of knowing that returns can be made quickly if the product isn’t satisfying. We subscribe to services that allow changing preferences or selections, such as streaming media or meal kits, and favor brands that provide options for customization or upgrades without requiring a new purchase.

10. Resisting the Aging Process

Deep down, we know that time is not on our side. It’s not merely about the fear of getting older physically but the dread of becoming irrelevant, disconnected, or unable to participate fully and maximize life’s opportunities. FOMO drives our quest to stay young, vibrant, and capable of everything life offers. FOMO breeds a refusal to go gently into the twilight of our days. We dye our hair, invest in skincare and other anti-aging products and supplements, prioritize wellness, and eat superfoods to outrun the inevitable. We use wellness apps, purchase fitness gear and equipment, and exercise religiously. We monitor ourselves and have routine health check-ups. We incorporate mindfulness, meditation, or therapy into daily routines to maintain mental health and well-being. We wear clothes that reflect current youthful trends.

We want to live long lives, but more importantly, we want to live entire lives for as long as possible.

This motivation bubbles up the PERENNIALS megatrend. Perennials are post-generational people who insist on not being defined by their chronological age or generation but by their values, mindset, and behavior. They are constantly evolving, always ready to learn, absorb new ideas, and adapt to changing circumstances, and always involved, active, relevant, and meaningful in the world. The term is relatively new and is gaining momentum. It was coined by Mauro Guillen, a Spanish-American sociologist, political economist, lecturer, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author.

Some Final Thoughts

FOMO is a double-edged sword. Sure, it can make us feel like we’re constantly scrambling, never quite satisfied with what we achieved and have. But let’s not forget that it also pushes us onward. Beyond every moment of FOMO lies the potential for discovery, growth, and joy. FOMO transcends its origins as a mere fear, evolving into a dominant force for personal and collective transformation.

So, the next time FOMO strikes, remember: it’s not just a fear — it’s a call to live life to its fullest.