The “be present” spirit of this term is nothing new (in fact, trend-watchers were onto in back in 2013, Glamour reports)—but the 21st-century version of it is geared toward the current too-plugged-in world. “Missing an email could be a fireable offense, and deleting Bumble could mean you don’t go on a date for another three months,” The New York Times notes. “Like it or not, we need our technology devices; we just don’t need them as much as we think we do. JOMO is about finding that balance.” And few tech giants are feeding into the interest in balance: Google, with its digital well-being initiative and Apple’s forthcoming software update, both of which aim to curb addictive social media habits that can lead to fear of missing out.
But a huge unplugging aspect of JOMO has nothing to do with tech. As Kayla Itsines’ recent Instagram so perfectly puts it, what was once a series of childhood punishments is now straight-up goals: an early bedtime, a night at home, and definitely no parties. See, adults need boundaries too, and after busy days hustling at work (and sometimes a side gig), staying in and socially disconnecting from the outside world by washing off your makeup, firing up Netflix, and gobbling down a bowl of (healthy!) popcorn is pretty much the crème de la crème. Now when a friend cancels plans—something that used to feel undeniably shitty—it feels like winning the lottery.
So the next time you crave getting cozy by turning yourself into a full-on human burrito with every blanket you own, do it. In today’s crazy world, where everything is always go-go-go, detoxing from people and technology might just be the best way to spend your time.
Here are some affordable self-care products you can buy at Walmart. Or, find out four self-care practices busy runners can use to speed recovery.