or as people like to call it; FOMO.

I think that's what led me to the escalation of my anxiety. I allowed social media to dictate my life, so much that I get really envious of what other people are doing.

But that's the toxic thing. Everyone posts every fantastic thing that happens on social media, including me. But nobody notices what goes behind the scene. This is what I tell myself all the time.

Being a Malaysian student in the UK, I am aware of other successful Malaysian UK students and when I compare myself to them, I realised that I am just sub-par. What am I compared to the girl who is studying in my dream university, my dream course and living her best life? What am I compared to the girl who travels to honeymoon places with her boyfriend, having something lavish to eat every day and doing the things I've always wanted to do. See this is how I've always felt.

Now that I'm back in Malaysia. This FOMO feeling is getting a bit more severe because literally everyone in the UK are traveling around Europe and I am back here, being super bored because I can't hang out with my friends because they're having finals and my family members are working. That's also when I realise, what about others? Does that mean all these while, when I post travel photos, do people feel the FOMO as well?

It struck me because I realise this feeling has nothing to do with the person who posts things on social media, it's me. Instead of feeling envious towards them, I should be happy for them. That's when I also realised that I can always do something about it. I can always go for a social media break, I can always just focus on myself. I can live my life my own way.

And that's what 2018 is also about. Learning to overcome the fear of missing out. Everyone is living their best life, even without us knowing it. But if we spend so much time comparing our situation to others, we will never be happy. So appreciate the time you have. Live in the moment.