"End-of-summer blues" is a partial manifestation of the fear of missed opportunities or, as it is called in the West, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). This is the feeling when it seems to you that everyone (except you) is having fun, talking with friends, and finding the strength for entertainment, vacation, creative self-realization, and career growth.

This is one of the modern psychological neologisms, which began to develop especially acutely among people with the spread of the Internet and social networks. It is associated with a bad mood, a feeling of dissatisfaction with life and can lead to depression and anxiety. Usually, over time, this rash passes by itself, but we advise you not to wait, understand the nature of this phenomenon and follow our advice to enjoy the last days of summer.
Children who are confused in social networks
Although FOMO is a relatively new term, the phenomenon itself has been around for as long as humanity has been alive. The only thing that has changed is the rate at which we receive new information that becomes a catalyst for bad thoughts. Psychologist Andrew Przybylski says that summer can be compared to a fire hydrant, from which a stream of beautiful photos with happy faces gushes out.

A social survey among Americans shows that 9 out of 10 people like to share vacation photos on social networks. But we don't take into account that these pictures are often edited, taken from several attempts and selected from a dozen or even hundreds of unsuccessful shots. Therefore, you, a casual observer of someone else's happiness, get the feeling that a lavish celebration is taking place nearby, to which everyone has been invited, except you.

The main trouble with FOMO is that no matter how many concerts you attended last week, no matter how many parties you organized, no matter how magical your vacation in the Maldives or Berdychiv turned out to be - there will always be someone who does it more often, more fun, better.

The second important point: the fear of spending time differently than others is part of our infantile, childlike nature. With the end of summer, a series of thoughts run through my head: no more carefree days, no more weekend parties, no more beaches, outdoor bonfires, barbecues with friends. Since childhood, we have been accustomed to associate summer with rest and vacations, but an adult cannot afford to drop everything and enjoy three carefree months.

Therefore, the first step in the fight against FOMO is to realize and accept yourself as a responsible adult. During the period of aggravation of this feeling, people forget that adult life is full of obligations that cannot be ignored. In addition, we are used to constant comparison, because of which we lose the understanding of what brings us pleasure - and we begin to blindly look for it in places where other people gather, and not within ourselves.

Another reason you might be mourning the end of summer is because you feel like you haven't accomplished everything on your (imagined or very real) to-do list. And all this together - pressure from social networks and unfulfilled obligations - creates a feeling of certain inferiority. As if we really missed something important and can't go back in time to fix it. In such conditions, how to stop worrying that summer is quickly passing us by?
How to stop worrying and fall in love with autumn
Use social networks less often. To learn to appreciate every moment, the first step is to stop valuing it based only on the fantasy of how many Facebook likes it will get. Minimize the number of sites and apps you use during the day. Leave those whom you trust and who do not cause you negative emotions.