Students share how they handle summer FOMO

The best way to spend summer is your way.

For many students, summer break is supposed to be the season of freedom, fun and unforgettable memories. It might feel like everyone’s out living their best life, everyone except you. Or at least, that’s what social media wants you to think.

The feeling that others are enjoying something you’re not part of is known as ‘FOMO’, or the fear of missing out. In the summer, it tends to show up more than ever.

Even when you’re working a summer job, taking classes or just trying to rest, the pressure to keep up can still sneak up on you.

Here’s how some of the Humber Polytechnic students are dealing with it and why learning to manage FOMO might be the most valuable lesson of your summer.

Making the most of summer, her own way

A woman is standing in front of a graffiti wall and smiling. — *Image provided by Walkiria Espinal*

I spoke to Walkiria Espinal, a user experience (UX) design student, who is spending her first summer in Canada and navigating it with optimism despite challenges.

Like many students, Espinal has seen her social media feed filled with travel posts, especially while she’s still attending classes.

“I wish I could have the same opportunity and time to travel out of the city, but I feel happy for the people that do,” she said.

Interestingly, while social media often makes people feel pressured to keep up, Espinal experiences something different. “I don’t feel pressured to be doing fun things. It’s the opposite, I feel motivated to be doing random little side quests and activities when I see other people do it,” she mentioned.

“I might be challenged by my budget, but I have found many activities for free like outdoor cinema screenings and cultural festivals. I’m trying not to let any opportunity pass by,” she said.

For Espinal, summer isn’t about spending money or matching the energy of a viral video, it’s about making memories with what you have.

The summer of small wins

A man is standing in front of a sea view and smiling. — *Image provided by Arjun Kalra*

I also spoke to Arjun Kalra, a marketing management student, currently doing a summer co-op placement. For him, summer wasn’t about parties or road trips, it was about work and early mornings.

“I’d see my friends posting from music festivals or camping and I definitely felt like I was missing out,” he said.

But Kalra has his own way of having fun. He and his housemates sometimes host bonfires and invite friends over. These small gatherings gave him the reset he didn’t know he needed.

That’s when he realized he didn’t need to replicate someone else’s summer to enjoy his own. Even now, he and his housemates keep things fun with spontaneous little trips.

He also found comfort in the unexpected. “Having a routine, even in the summer, gave me structure. I wasn’t always free to go wherever, but I was still growing, meeting people and learning how to manage my time,” Kalra mentioned.

From FOMO to fulfillment

A woman is standing outdoors and smiling. — *Image provided by Jasleen Malhotra*

Jasleen Malhotra, a media communication student, hadn’t planned for a quiet summer. She’d hoped to travel, maybe squeeze in a few spontaneous trips with friends over the weekends to balance academics and fun.

But as the weeks rolled in, most of her circle was either busy with jobs or back in their hometowns. Malhotra found herself staring down a long stretch of unplanned time.

Instead of letting the feeling sit, she decided to take back control of her summer by making plans for herself.

“By the end of June, I’d taken a solo day trip to the beach, watched movies, been to parks and made a few new friends through a local art group. I was creating good memories,” she said.

It wasn’t the break she expected but in the end, it felt right.

Finding joy your own way

A man is saying the words, "I feel great. I'm so happy." — *Via GIPHY*

One of the most powerful ways to counter FOMO is to make your own plans, based on what actually brings you joy, not what looks good on your story.

That doesn’t mean planning a packed itinerary or booking a flight tomorrow. It can be as small as organizing a game night, going on a solo movie date or finally baking that cake recipe sitting in your bookmarks.

These personal wins, no matter how minor they seem, can feel way more fulfilling than scrolling endlessly.

Instead of dreading what you’re not doing, try celebrating the rest, reflection or relaxation you are getting. That slow morning coffee, that quiet walk or that guilt-free Netflix binge is valid.

It’s part of your life and it matters.

Everyone’s summer looks different

A man is telling another man, "You do what you want." — *Via GIPHY*

Summer FOMO thrives on the illusion that there’s a right way to spend your break. But the truth is, there isn’t.

Some students travel, some work full-time, some go home to help their families and some spend most days just trying to stay afloat mentally. And all of those are okay.

These student stories remind us that summer doesn’t have to be epic to be meaningful, it just has to be yours.

So, if you’re scrolling through your feed this week and that familiar FOMO feeling creeps in, just take a deep breath, close the app and maybe step outside or call someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with. Then, make a small plan that actually excites you.

You’re not missing out, you’re just starting to write a different kind of summer story. And that might be the best one yet!

Feature image courtesy of Borna Hržina via Unsplash

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