Throughout my student years in Groningen, including the Covid-19 period, I’ve experienced the famous fear of missing out in many forms. But now, in the final home stretch of my master’s, I’ve felt it shift. My FOMO is no longer about social life, but about academia. I feel like I’m sprinting with no way to slow down.
It started subtly, with a quiet inner voice saying it was my last bit of student experience. Long nights with assigned readings, skipped fun gatherings here and there, and the desire to know all, either from imposter syndrome or a passion for the subject, didn’t scare me but excited me. Thinking about case studies while dancing with friends or testing different methodologies on family members has turned into a running joke. They would lovingly call me a nerd, and I would join the joke, feeling proud.
‘How could I not do the extra reading?’ ‘How could I not attend the extra curriculum lecture or a free masterclass?’ ‘How could I not perform my best during one of many presentations?’ All those questions would motivate me to do more, go bigger, and excel in academic life. I felt like a track runner who could no longer easily stop at such high speed. Advice from outside didn’t help much either. ‘Use this opportunity wisely, because your input from these years directly correlates with your success after graduation’, someone told me.
Sleepless nights not from partying but studying should not be an average experience of the final student year
Maybe they’re right; I still need to find out. But what they didn’t mention is how vital it is to pace yourself, to avoid collapsing midway through the race. I’ve seen friends chase social FOMO to the point of developing exhaustion, addiction, burnout, or even depression. Reflecting on this, I realized academic FOMO might not be much different. Pursuing perfection with endless readings, lectures, presentations, and extracurriculars can quietly take the same toll.
Those small moments of choosing academic success over personal rest are frequently rewarded, but this reward should never come at the cost of physical or mental health. Sleepless nights not from partying but studying, neglected friendships, incapability to relax or enjoy the moment, whether it is within or outside of the Academy walls, should not be an average experience of the final student year. At least, I do not want it to be that way for me.
Studying should remain challenging, but once in a while, it is okay to slow down, tell yourself a little lie that you will do the rest tomorrow, and be a slightly less responsible student. Prioritizing during an important ‘race’ such as getting a degree is crucial, and one unread paper will not doom all the other achievements or lead to forever joblessness.
In any race, pacing yourself is key to finishing strong. Slowing down isn’t failure but self-preservation. The real success lies in crossing the finish line with your health, relationships, and passion intact. At least, that’s the finish line I’m aiming for.
LIZA KOLOMIIETS