Embracing the Magic of Missing Out

During a recent trip to Paris, I found myself passing by the Eiffel Tower to meet a friend nearby. 

I knew it would be busy, but I was stunned at the sheer amount of people. It was crowded to the point of being uncomfortable. The lines to climb the tower were so big you’d have thought Taylor Swift was in town. There were people holding bunches of heart-shaped red balloons everywhere, selling them to people for photo ops—the latest social media craze, apparently. And this was in January, so I dread to think what it will be like in summer.  

It was just too much but the experience stuck with me. All those people, converging on this iconic landmark, probably all thinking the same thing: “I can’t go to Paris and miss the Eiffel Tower.” 

The truth is you can. Here’s why. 

JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out 

That trip to Paris got me thinking a lot about JOMO (the joy of missing out). It’s not a new concept, but it’s one that has become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially in travel. It’s something I’ve always been mindful of, both personally and through my business, before I’d ever heard the phrase. 

So, what is it? 

JOMO is about liberation from the pressure of ticking off bucket list items and social media-driven expectations. 

It's about: 

•          Feeling comfortable skipping "iconic" destinations 

•          Prioritizing personal experience over following others 

•          Making connections, with people and place, over ticking off destinations on a list

Ultimately, it’s about slowing down. Most of the time, we travel to relax, learn, spend time with the people we love, and experience new things. If we’re only focused on getting from one “must-visit” place to the next, we lose a lot of that. 

In my last experience, I did not need to spend time at the Eiffel Tower to feel Paris. In fact, I would have been happier missing it altogether.  

This is true for many places, not just Europe. It’s also not limited to iconic places. I could create a 10-day trip to Tanzania that hits multiple stops, including the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti during migration season. No doubt, the crater is a phenomenal area, filled with wildlife. However, it’s also a place that you’d share with 400 other safari vehicles during peak season. The same thing applies for the Serengeti—is sitting around with 100 other vehicles waiting for a wildebeest crossing really that magical? Is that really enjoyable?  

These are the kinds of conversations I have with my clients. I do this because I want them to think about the real reason they decided to go to Africa in the first place. Are they just going to tick wildlife off a list, or is it something more than that they’re after? I want them to think of the entire experience: from waking up, surrounded by nature in the most beautiful places, far removed from other people, to tracking wildlife with an expert guide, and really earning that buzz when they first lay eyes on a lion.  

When I look back, some of my most magical moments are not around crowds. I think of Gonarezhou reserve in Zimbabwe during green season when I was suddenly surrounded by a herd of over 100 elephants without another vehicle in sight. I spent the whole day observing them. I think of the Lower Zambezi, hearing the hippos, and the birds and seeing an elephant come down to the water and drink. Again, not a person in sight. It is going to Northern Kenya and enjoying a long walk with my Samburu guide and slowly getting to know them and their culture.   

My JOMO moment 

A few years ago, I took a trip to Chile with my family. There was an option to go to Torres del Paine, a very beautiful (and very popular) part of Patagonia, but I decided against it. I wanted to travel slowly, with much more intention.  

I was looking for the joy in simply being present and not feeling compelled to chase every tourist attraction. We decided on the Carretera Austral, rented a car, and made our way slowly down the region. 

There was such a sense of adventure, avoiding the busy tourist spots, and taking our time to explore this very serene, incredibly picturesque part of Chile. Sometimes we booked our next accommodation the day before we left the one we were in. Without a list of big-ticket things to see, we were able to really relax, spend quality time together, and experience our surroundings without pressure or major time constraints.  

That, I realized, was the real reason we were traveling in the first place. Not to hike a famous trail in Patagonia, but to enjoy the way our destination made us feel. It was epic. 

Why JOMO matters 

In our hyper-connected, always-online world, JOMO offers a much-needed respite. I’m a big believer that the joy you take from a trip cannot be measured by your social media output. Personal well-being should always come first. 

We need to give ourselves permission to miss out. By doing that, finding the real joy of travel is so much easier. It’s less about the pace of seeing a place and more about doing less, feeling more, and sinking into the experience, the people you meet, and who you’re with. 

My top tips for embracing JOMO 

• Take trips for reasons, not destinations. For example, if you want to reconnect with friends and family, surround yourself with nature.  

• Avoid popular locations. Don’t go where everyone else is going. 

• Stay longer in one place, or a few places close together. 

• Choose secluded accommodations off the beaten path. 

Have you skipped an iconic attraction in favor of something more personal? Did you miss it or were you happy you did it? I’d love to hear your JOMO stories! 

Until next time,

Elizabeth