Summer may be here but that means freshers week is rapidly approaching and with it the possibility of experiencing freshers FOMO. So we’re going to explain what it is and how best to handle it.
What is Freshers FOMO?
With coming-of-age films depicting freshers week as a character-forming time of rebellion, socialising and excitement, it is no surprise freshers FOMO or fear of missing out is a common affliction.
Freshers FOMO is the feeling that everybody else is out meeting new friends, partying every night and having the best time of their lives, never feeling homesick lonely or afraid. As social media glues us to other people’s highlight reels and locks us in a feed of their happy memories, this can be difficult to overcome.
“The Best Time of Your Life”
Society often teaches us that our early twenties are supposed to be the best time of our lives. Freshers week at university is typically depicted as the pinnacle of this. While many people have an amazing time settling into university if it doesn’t quite measure up to expectations that is normal and okay.
It does not mean the rest of your university experience will fall flat. Loneliness and feeling overwhelmed in a new city are common and can exacerbate feelings of FOMO. There are a plethora of ways besides the typical drinking-every-night style of freshers week to make lifelong friends and memories.
How to overcome FOMO
Being proactive and putting yourself out there is the best way to find your people at university. Finding a group of likeminded friends who you can trust will likely cure any FOMO.
Through subject and society group chats, and your halls of residence you can find people to meet up with whether you want to go clubbing, have a takeaway, or go to a cafe. Many societies host some great freshers socials both sober and alcohol-based. Calling home and taking the time to get familiar with your new city is another quick way to ease loneliness and escape freshers FOMO.