Sometimes it can feel like everyone around you has everything figured out and the “perfect” life—the perfect social life, a crazy amount of followers, or the perfect style. When balancing dance, school, and daily life, it can feel like you are missing out on socializing. This fear of missing out (FOMO) can be distracting and bring on anxiety as you worry about fun things and experiences happening without you. But your life and your journey are entirely your own! It is important not to compare yours to everyone around you.
Let’s tackle FOMO head on.
There Isn’t One Timeline for Success
It is easy to compare yourself to other dancers. From how many trophies they have won to how many turns they can do, putting your accomplishments and abilities against others’ can quickly become a bad habit. Some dancers find success quickly and at a young age while others find it when they are 20 years old. This might seem stressful, but it’s a benefit of life. The journey is uniquely yours! Remember to celebrate every victory no matter how big or small it may appear. Every small win gets you one step closer to your end goal.
Unplug
Social media can be great for getting inspiration from other dancers and sharing your talent and dreams with the world. However, it can also become mentally draining. Seeing your friends post pictures at parties, competitions, or intensives can invite anxiety about why you’re not doing the same things. It may even feel like you’re falling behind. You aren’t. Social media shows the highlight reels not behind the scenes. Reduce your stress by doing more mindful scrolling that focuses on your interests rather than comparing your life to others, and more importantly, reduce your screen time.
Dance is NOT your Whole Identity
Sometimes we get so caught up with dance that we forget we have more to offer than just our dancing. You should be proud of your dance accomplishments. You know how hard you worked for them! But there is more to you than that. You are a collage of your interests, goals, ideas, and quirks. Embrace those layers outside of the studio. It is important to have hobbies, interests, and friends outside of your dance life, whether art, another sport, or just spending time outdoors. Breaking up your time and putting your energy into multiple things can benefit your social life and help you avoid getting burnout on the things you love.
