FOMO is still here, and there's no escaping it.

I’ve seen lots of articles and blogs recently informing us all that FOMO has now been cancelled, what with not being able leave the house and all – but I can confirm something quite the opposite is happening. Whether you’re quarantined with family, friends, partners or simply yourself, the idea of isolation can mean nothing or the word in its most literal sense. Isolated.

Obviously, this is coming from a personal perspective, so you could have very happily escaped the world of FOMO, in which case, congratulations. For the rest of us though, specifically if like many others your work has come to a halt, the endless days/weeks of scrolling through social media has become the way to fill the days. You may order as many books or magazines as you want, watch films to your hearts content, but really in those small minutes (turning to hours) on social media do we find ourselves discovering the reality of the grass is always greener. Seeing the expansion of apps like house party allowing for mass group calls and quizzes is one thing but discovering who everyone has been lucky enough to be cooped up with, is another.

One day you think it’s the friends that have been lucky enough to stumble in to this isolation together, not much change in the dynamics of daily life. You wake up and your friend is there. Want to watch a film or start a new series? ‘HEY what do you fancy watching’ you shout across your living quarters. The sun’s out even though we can’t feel it? Why not get drunk together, just like old times. These are the happenings of being forced to live with your friend. Torture, isn’t it?

Next up we have, who many may deem to be the luckiest (I have my days), The Couples. So yes, you’ve been fortunate enough to snap someone up pre-quarantine, but to already be sharing pots and pans? You’ve really struck gold. I think here, we’re all in agreement with the main cause of celebration – sex. Yes, you may have no time to think to yourself and for some reason the toilet seat being left up is really starting to get to you, but right now you’ve got something that no other quarantine partners have. So, next time you need that 1 hour solo walk in the real world, remember what you get to come home to.

Finally, and this is a rare thought to have, but the real MVP’s of social distancing are those doing it in its most literal sense – alone. Picture yourself where you are right now – you’re surrounded by your siblings again having escaped your damp student housing, your partner keeps updating you with his score on football manager or your friend has decided that your personal boundaries no longer matter – and don’t you wish sometimes you could walk around in your underwear, singing that song you know none of the words to, or taking the longest showers without the worry that someone on the other side of the door needs to pee. Although rare, and I imagine these are the ones among us who FOMO has never been realer for, these moments of solace and shower singing are not to be taken for granted.

And yes, there are negatives to all of these styles of social distancing, so next time you think the grass might be greener for someone else – remind yourself what they’re missing out on.