The joy of missing out: Why you don’t always have to be busy on the weekend

As much as I loved reuniting with my loved ones, it can all be a little too much.

The long weekend is finally here but does anyone else feel like curling up in a ball and hibernating for the weekend? The pressure to be constantly busy, especially as restrictions ease is weighing down on me. That pressure is even heavier when you scroll through your Instagram feed and see half a dozen people heading off on trips to the countryside, embracing outdoor dining or enjoying that long overdue pint inside their local pub. I feel like since some form of normality returned to our lives we're expected to make 101 different plans because we can, but sometimes there's no harm in taking a breather, especially after the stress of the past year. As much as I loved reuniting with my loved ones, it can all be a little too much. The world expects us to jump back into where we left off, pre-pandemic, and that just isn't possible. People are tired, uncomfortable and going out can be far too intense. The worry about COVID-19 is still there. The trauma of the last year is still hovering above our heads and no amount of brunch dates is going to make that disappear. That's why I'm embracing the joy of missing out. Sometimes what you need to do is listen to your body and mind and ignore the societal pressures or Instagram stories that tell you you need to have a diary full of outings ahead of you. I've penciled in the odd brunch date, a trip to the cinema, and travelled to Mayo and Kerry, but sometimes all I want is to switch off from the outside world and delve into the pages of a gripping novel. And guess what? It's perfectly fine. You need to remind yourself that being busy isn't the be-all and end-all. If your family's long weekend plans consist of a trip to the local park and nothing more than that's okay. If you aren't even moving off the sofa then that's grand! If you're planning on seeing nobody but the people who live in your house (and possibly the delivery driver from Dominos) then newsflash, there's no harm in that! We've all been tricked into thinking that busyness equals worthiness, but that's not the case at all. Embracing JOMO can even have a positive impact on your health. According to the American Heart Association, people who focus on JOMO develop a better sense of self because they're not constantly comparing themselves to other people. It could also help you live longer! By opting to stay in rather than going out, 30% of people said they felt less stressed and 20% felt more in control of their lives. Others said they felt more financially stable because the pressure to attend every social occasion isn't weighing them down. A study found that people saved up to $4,000 a year by staying in just three times a week.  84% of participants said that they spend less when ignoring the societal pressure to be busy 24/7. This doesn't mean you have to become a hermit for the rest of your life. It just means the odd night in or family movie night is okay. You don't have to keep up appearances because people on your Instagram feed are out and about all the time. Remember your Instagram feed is only ever a highlights reel of other people's lives. Comparison is the thief of joy so when you find yourself worrying about not doing enough then remember to ask yourself what you'd like to do and not what you should do.