Disconnecting Digitally to Reconnect with What Really Matters
In a world constantly plugged in, learn to cultivate the 'Joy of Missing out' (JOMO)
Are you tech tired?
From the moment we wake up to the second we fall asleep, we’re glued to our devices—phones, computers, tablets—constantly bombarded by notifications and an endless stream of content vying for our attention.
Screen time has become the new normal, but how often do we stop to consider how it’s affecting our ability to truly live in the world around us?
In a world where our lives are increasingly lived through digital screens, it’s easy to forget what we’re losing along the way.
In 2013, I hit my breaking point. It happened when I saw a priest blessing a smartphone (yes, you read that right). That moment was my wake-up call—I realized something had to change in my screen-saturated world. So, I decided to take action.
I went on a 31-day digital detox, completely unplugging from all devices. Little did I know, this experiment would change my life. During that time, I discovered the ‘Joy of Missing Out’—or JOMO—and it transformed my life.
I began to focus better, form deeper connections, and realize that the digital world had been taking more from me than it had been giving.
Since then, I’ve delved deeper into understanding this shift, earning further education in psychology at the University of Toronto, where I studied the effects of technology on mental health and well-being.
The more I’ve learned, the clearer it’s become: we don’t have to be slaves to our screens. We can choose to reclaim our time and our peace of mind.
Armed with these insights, I created the JOMO Method—a way to unplug, not as an act of deprivation, but as a choice to be more intentional with our screen time in a way that truly adds value to our lives, helping individuals and organizations find their digital balance.
But I wasn’t done yet. I wanted to reach the next generation—the ones facing the greatest pressure to be online 24/7.
And that’s how JOMO(campus) was born.
In a few years, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with colleges and universities across North America to introduce students to JOMO through evidence-based programs designed to help those in higher learning take control of their device usage.
At Virginia Tech alone—just one of our pioneering campuses—73.8% of students who participated in the 4-week JOMO challenge reported making positive changes to their digital habits as a result.
Today, not a day passes without a new study revealing the true costs of our screen obsession: unprecedented global loneliness, burnout, and mental distress.
Are you ready to unplug and rethink your relationship with technology? Let’s start this journey, one mindful click at a time.
In this forum, I’ll bring those digital wellness strategies straight to you—exploring the complex impact of our digital age, discovering how to reclaim our time and rethinking what it means to truly connect in a world filled with digital distractions.
If you've ever felt weighed down by the constant digital noise or wondered how much longer you can keep up, you’re not alone. How are you handling it? Are you managing to find balance, or is it becoming too much?