Finding JOMO as a Shopaholic
I think most of us are familiar with the term FOMO or “fear of missing out” and have experienced the pressure that FOMO can bring into our decision-making. After all, most of our impulse buys are motivated by FOMO, especially when shopping for clothes.
You open emails with the words “Sale Ending Tonight!” & panic thinking you’ll miss out on a great deal.
You admire a cute dress & get stressed there’s only one of your size left in stock.
You see the words “limited edition” on a collection & feel pressured to buy before the chance disappears.
You lose track of time shopping & your Target cart is filled to the brim with clothes you didn’t even plan on buying. (I’m roasting myself here, too!)
What if we wouldn’t have looked twice at an item if FOMO didn’t cloud our judgment?
Statistically, we only wear 20% of our wardrobe & the other 80% never gets worn. I remember being very surprised by this, until I thought about the unworn impulse buys still tagged & hanging in my closet thanks to my own unchecked FOMO.
Now, I hear people use an opposite term often, JOMO or “joy of missing out”. I began to apply JOMO to shop with moderation & intention.
Here’s what this shopaholic learned:
Think of the opportunity cost of an impulse buy. When you leave behind an item that you have mixed feelings for, it opens up space for another item you truly love.
If you wouldn’t have considered buying a sales item at full price, then leave it behind. Your decisiveness will give you more time to shop & find what you’re looking for.
When there’s a new trend you like, try it in smaller doses first. You’ll learn if you love the trend enough to invest in it more or another trend might emerge that you prefer.
Ask yourself, “Can I create three outfits I’d genuinely love to wear with this item & what I already have?” By prioritizing pieces that work with your wardrobe, you save future you time & energy trying to create outfits later.
You deserve to be selective & wear clothes you 100% love!
