The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO): Why Staying In Is the New Going Out

There was a time when saying “no” to plans felt like social suicide. Friday nights were sacred for bar hopping, group dinners, and spontaneous road trips you probably forgot by Sunday. But somewhere between adulting, skyrocketing Grab fares, and burnout, something changed.

We discovered the beauty of staying in. And honestly? We’re not mad about it.

Welcome to the era of JOMO — the Joy of Missing Out.

The FOMO Era Is Over (Thank God)

Millennials grew up with the pressure to always be “on.” Social media made it worse. Every IG story was a reminder that someone, somewhere, was doing something cooler than you. So we forced ourselves to show up, to birthdays of people we barely talk to, or reunions we dreaded but went to just for the photo.

Now? We’re tired. We’ve finally realized that it’s okay not to be everywhere. And that our peace is priceless.

Why I Left Manila, and Never Looked Back

Part of embracing JOMO for me meant making a huge life shift: leaving Manila and choosing to stay in the province.

I know, I know, people dream of working in the city, building a fast-paced career, chasing after something bigger. But that “something bigger” came with traffic that drains your soul, air that smells like smog, and a schedule that never lets you rest.

Living in the province gave me something Manila never could, peace.

No honking cars at 7 AM, no 3-hour commute just to get home, no pressure to always “hustle.” Here, I wake up to trees instead of towers, fresh air instead of fumes, and silence that actually feels healing.

And honestly? That’s the kind of “success” I was really looking for.

Choosing Comfort Over Crowds

We’ve hit a point where a quiet night at home, good food, a cold drink, and a solid series or game, feels way better than yelling over loud music in a packed room.

Spending Friday night fixing up your space, catching up on a book, or just enjoying the quiet isn’t boring, it’s leveling up your peace of mind.

No, You’re Not a Loner (You’re Healing)

Choosing JOMO doesn’t mean you hate people. It just means you’re learning to value your time and energy. The loudest people aren’t always the happiest, and the busiest ones aren’t always fulfilled.

Millennials are slowly embracing mindfulness. We’re trading chaos for calm, speed for stillness. We finally get that doing nothing is doing something, especially for our sanity.

Signs You’re in Your Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) Era:

• You feel genuine relief when someone cancels plans
• You’d rather read (or scroll TikTok) in bed than go out
• Your calendar has more me-time than meetups
• You’ve said “Next time!” knowing fully there won’t be a next time, and you’re okay with it
• You’re no longer chasing the city life, you’re building a quieter one on your own terms

It’s Not Anti-Social. It’s Pro-You.

Choosing yourself doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you self-aware. Life is loud. If staying in gives you quiet, take it. Enjoy it. Romanticize the heck out of it.

So here’s to sleeping early, Spotify on shuffle, freshly brewed coffee, solo movie nights, quiet hobbies, weekends with no plans and declining invites guilt-free.

To slow mornings, fresh probinsya air, and moments that don’t need to be posted online.

Welcome to your JOY OF MISSING OUT (JOMO) era, it looks good on you.

Have you felt JOMO lately? Tell me about it in the comments!

For more reflections, habits, and inspiration, visit the Lifestyle section.