Many struggle with the fear of missing out (FOMO) but often fail to consider the possible joy of missing out (JOMO). JOMO is a national initiative used by institutions to address technology and its impact on mental and social well-being.
Christina Babyak, Community Wellbeing Specialist in the Office of Health Promotion, helped organize JOMO and bring it to Villanova’s campus.
“‘The Joy of Missing Out’ (JOMO) is a Villanovans Connecting Offline initiative that directly responds to national and campus data and expresses the need for student communication skill development from faculty and staff and expresses student desire to become less dependent on their phones,” Babyak said.
The Office of Health Promotion and Learning Support Services worked together to organize JOMO on Villanova’s campus for the 2024-25 academic year.
This initiative gives students multiple strategies to limit technology use, such as tech break boxes, cell phone sleeping bags and workshops for integrating tech breaks into daily activities. At the Court at Donahue on South Campus, Falvey Holy Grounds and various other student life and academic support locations around campus, there are tech break boxes and conversation cards that students can use to help them take a break from their phones and be more present. Cell phone sleeping bags are also located in study areas on campus to help students focus on their school work without distractions.
“All first-year students will receive a cell phone sleeping bag at the Moments that Matter New Student Orientation Program to reinforce the importance of connection, belongingness and community in preventing harm caused by alcohol and sexual violence,” Babyak said. “[Second], all first-year students eating in the South Campus dining hall will have access to tech break boxes and conversation cards on the dining hall tables to encourage taking tech breaks during meal times to encourage socialization.”
Additionally, there will be student-led workshops on technology to help students set personal and academic goals. POWER is creating a technology goal-setting workshop that will allow students to learn about the effects of technology and explore their own phone usage, screen time and create goals to improve. On Oct. 4, the Center for Speaking and Presentation will also be facilitating its first workshop on making small talk.
The hope of JOMO is that students who use the tech break boxes and conversation cards will report greater rates of thriving in a culture of widespread mental health struggles among college students.
“More than 85% of undergraduate students report experiencing nervousness, anxiety and feeling on edge in the past two weeks,” Babyak said. “More than 65% of undergraduate students report not being able to stop or control worrying in the past two weeks. Nearly 50% of undergraduate students report little interest or pleasure in doing things; feeling down, depressed and helpless in the past two weeks.”
Unplugging from technology and using the resources JOMO offers may help students find more joy in life and help those who may be struggling with their mental or physical health.
“Research demonstrates that putting cell phones out of sight significantly reduces the disruptive impact that simply having our phones nearby can have on our ability to focus and be present with one another,” Babyak said. “Putting our cell phones out of sight during our social interactions can also increase experiences of empathy and fulfillment in our communication with others. Research also demonstrates the impact technology use can have on sleep quantity and quality, which can compound the negative effects of technology on one’s energy, focus and well-being.”
If one is interested in learning more about JOMO, follow the Office of Health Promotion, @villanovahealth, and Learning Support Services, @villanovalss, on Instagram. One can also request to have a tech break box at a meeting or class, as well as conversation cards or a cell phone sleeping bag by emailing [email protected].
