Some genius once said that comparison is the thief of joy. Probably Shakespeare or Bono or whoever. Actually, maybe it was my mum?

A quick google search would probably tell me, but that’s not the point. Whoever it was, they were darn bloody right. Not only does comparing yourself to others take away your joy, it takes away your common sense and your level headed perspective on things.

When you’re right in the thick of uni life, piled up with assignments and exam notes, unsure about when your next break will be, FOMO can creep up like a spiteful bitch. How come such-and-such from high school seems to be going out with her uni friends all the time? How come such and such uni has a better library/lifestyle/selection of chain restaurants? Am I doing uni wrong?

Feeling like you’re missing out on peak uni experiences can really suck, and we all feel it sometimes. Here’s some things to keep in mind.

#1 Stop Going On Social Media

Social media is the damp, porous atmosphere where FOMO goes to multiply and grow. If you log on to that cesspool of comparison, you have a 100 per cent chance of being exposed to something that’ll give you a little pang of jealousy. So don’t.

We’re not saying you should delete your Facebook and run off to a commune (because, no), it might just be a good idea to know which particular times make you vulnerable and when you should steer clear.

Exam time is a good one. Not only because less social time makes concentrating on study easier, but because you’re feeling extremely fragile. More than likely, you can’t do anything for weeks, so seeing other people have a fun time at uni is super damaging.

#2 Remember, People Make Friends Differently

Don’t forget who you are as a person. If you’re introverted, or anxious in social situations, you compare yourself to the life of the party. If you’re usually great at making friends but no one has really stuck around, they’re probably not the right group of people for you anyway.

Uni isn’t high school – you’re not supposed to form cliques and play nice with literally everyone. Uni social life is just like real life in that there’ll be some people you love, and some people you don’t. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re doing good.

#3 Remember Why You Chose Your Uni

So your uni doesn’t have the best organised social life. Big whoop, right? You clearly didn’t choose it for that, anyway.

Seeing an old high school mate sink beer bongs on residence at their regional uni might make you think that you’re doing it wrong, but you probably didn’t want that life anyway. You might have liked the convenience of your uni, or their scholarship program, or the fact that there’s really beautiful jacaranda trees around Christmas time.

Stick to your guns.

#4 Make The Fun

OK so it seems like everyone else goes to Law balls and heads out on pub crawls and attends protests, while you sit on an outdoor park bench on your stranded campus. Cool. That’s fine.

If the lack of social life is really grinding your gears, take it into your own hands. You can host events, create groups, go to parties. Feeling down in the dumps is fine, but if you feel down in the dumps about something you can change, that’s just called complaining. Sorry not sorry for the harsh truth.

#5 Get Closer To Your Existing Friends

So you don’t have a group of uni friends to share memes and/or memories with. How about you really appreciate the friends you really do have?

People don’t say quality over quantity for nothing! Call them up, organise a weekly meet up, have drinks, get silly. Then you know what? Don’t post it on your socials. You know that you don’t have to prove your friendship to anyone.

Real life is so much better than an Insta post could capture.

#6 There’s No Right Way To Do It

Whether you’re a homebody or a raging partier, no one’s uni experience is the same. What works for you might not work for another person, so just keep doing what you’re doing.

h/t: Fresh U

(Lead image: Easy A/Screen Gems)