Fear of Missing Out: Don’t Let It Stop You 

Moving to a whole new country for an extended period of time—yikes. It sounds scary, challenging, and like a lot of work that maybe you’re not sure you can handle. These were my thoughts when I started exploring my study abroad options. I knew it would most likely be an amazing experience, but how would I possibly manage being away from my friends and family for so long? I had my own life here, and I would miss out on my brother's graduation or game nights with my friends. Would it all be worth it? 

 Despite my concerns about being gone for so long, I eventually decided that studying abroad in Granada, Spain, to pursue classes that would help me complete my Spanish major was something I was ready to take on. 

Views of La Alhambra at sunset after an impromptu hike 

While studying abroad brought about many challenges, like navigating a different language and culture, one of the things I found myself most nervous about was missing out on things back home. That’s right—I had major FOMO. How was I supposed to focus on my time abroad when I was missing out on weekly debriefs with my close friends after a long week of classes? What would happen to my membership in the a cappella group I was a part of once I decided to take off a whole semester? And what about the health of loved ones, like my grandparents? These were just a few of the worries I had, making it hard for me to fully commit to an immersion abroad. I learned later that I was not the only one with FOMO.  

Spontaneity is everything! My friend and I decided the night before to go skiing and it is one of my favorite memories! 

Initial Feelings 

Once I landed in Granada, I found myself becoming even more conflicted. I wanted to soak up every single second in the new city I was in and did not want to miss anything. However, I was still concerned with what was going on at home. How was I supposed to stay mindful during my time abroad? What was the right balance between staying involved with things back home and also not missing out on all the wonderful experiences and opportunities I was getting in Spain?  

I knew that if I went back and forth between worrying about life at home and trying to soak up every experience I could in Spain, I would drive myself crazy. I made the decision to try and be as mindful as possible because I was never going to be 20 years old living in a foreign country ever again. These experiences were only going to happen to me once, and I knew I would regret it for a long time if I wasn’t fully present.  

Two things that people always told me when it came up that I was studying abroad for a semester: The first was, “I bet you are going to love it so much and never want to move back home” (which turned out to be true), and the second was, “The time is going to fly by.” I did not believe the second statement. In my mind, five months was an incredibly long time. My first month there, I was so wrapped up in just getting through the days and worrying about things that were happening at home that I blinked, and my first month was over. I decided then and there that I needed to be more mindful so I would not be disappointed by the end of my study abroad experience. 

My friends and I discovered the Federico García Lorca park one day and it instantly became our favorite spot to hang out once the weather warmed up. 

Implementing Mindfulness 

At first, it was proving to be a little bit difficult to practice mindfulness. It is not just a switch you can flip, and all of a sudden, you are taking in every moment and not worrying about things out of your control. One thing I noticed was that I wasn’t alone in these feelings. Many of my friends had things in their lives distracting them from practicing mindfulness abroad. Together, we decided that we would be able to hold each other accountable and help each other find ways to enjoy the little things about living abroad.  

One of my favorite ways to savor my time abroad was to block out a part of our day after classes and just start walking around the city. We had no goal, no specific place in mind, and no hard time limit. By doing this, we were able to discover new parts of the city, oftentimes away from some of the more touristy locations, and try new cafes, restaurants, or even parks for picnics. In doing this, we were able to find some of our favorite spots that we wouldn’t have otherwise. I found my favorite tapas restaurant, study spot, and group hang-out spot by doing this with my friends. We learned that being mindful abroad doesn’t have to be extravagant or complicated—it is just slowing down and being present with the ones who make you happy in places that bring you joy.  

Taking the afternoon to walk around the hidden gems of the city 

Capture every moment! Photographing small things will let you look back on memories and reflect on your time abroad.  

What Being Mindful Taught Me 

Mindfulness abroad helped me become more mindful in my daily life back home. I find myself enjoying the little things, taking in every moment, and reminding myself to slow down when I feel myself becoming overwhelmed with small things. Without my time abroad and the firsthand experience of how mindfulness can positively impact my life, I don’t think I would be going about my last years of college the same way. I will be forever grateful for my experiences abroad and what they taught me about myself.