College is filled with opportunities. There are clubs, study groups, dorm hangouts, late night events, and moments that happen without warning. With so much activity around you, it is very easy to feel the pull of FOMO, also known as the fear of missing out.
For many students, FOMO appears when schedules stop lining up or when academic paths start to separate. One moment you might be taking the same classes as your friends and studying together every week, and the next moment your course loads shift and everyone begins moving in different directions. You start to wonder what others are doing, what conversations you might be missing, and whether you should be there with them.
This feeling is natural. College can make every opportunity seem important, and it can feel like you need to be present for everything in order to make the most of your experience. Trying to be everywhere at once, however, usually creates stress, overcommitment, and burnout.
So how do you curb FOMO?
A helpful approach is to focus on the things you can control, such as your goals, priorities, and the path you want to build for yourself. When you put genuine effort into your studies and into the experiences that support your personal growth, FOMO becomes quieter. You start creating your own routine, your own sense of purpose, and your own community that fits the direction you are moving toward.
This does not mean you lose touch with your friends or miss out on meaningful moments. It simply means acknowledging that interests change, schedules adjust, and college is not a competition to attend everything that happens around you. It is an opportunity to discover what matters most and pursue it with intention.
When you commit to your craft, opportunities do not disappear. They evolve. New ones appear that align with who you are becoming. The more grounded you are in your own goals, the less you feel the nagging urge to compare your experience to what others are doing.
In college and beyond, remember this: You do not need to be part of everything to build something meaningful. Focus your time where it matters most, and the rest will fall into place, including the fading of FOMO.