The very British fear of missing out on sunshine
THE turbulent weather of 2018 has caused an epidemic in Britain. The country is in the grip of a condition known as “FOMOS”, or fear of missing out on sunshine, which manifests itself in to-do lists being ripped up and offices sitting empty on sunny days.
Sufferers from FOMOS, which I admit I am, feel anxiety at the prospect of having to be inside on a sunny day, and develop a disregard for everyday tasks and workplace norms when the temperature climbs above 73F (23C).
Forces have collided in 2018 to make this year the worst on record for FOMOS. First, the weather has toyed with us. We spent the winter blisteringly cold. It was the coldest, in fact, that we have been since 2010. Then, after punishing us well into April, the weather let up and gave us the hottest May since records began.
With all the toing and froing, it’s no surprise that we don’t fully trust the skies to give us the balmy, tropical summers of our dreams. And so, as we look forward to another heatwave, expect FOMOS levels to climb in line with the mercury bar.
Added to the fluctuating forecast is the occurrence of World Cup season. Now, I’m not a fan of football, but I will be sitting in the garden in front of a screen, with a cider in one hand and bowl of strawberries in the other tomorrow, when the England game kicks off. No one will be able to drag me inside – and the weather had better not let me down.
FOMOS will intensify when the week begins. We will drag ourselves to offices and schools around the country, gaze out of windows and urge the lunch bell to ring.
If only we knew the sun would last all summer, then we could treat the heatwave with a bit more nonchalance. But we can’t, so pack some sun cream in your work satchel and make the most of it. I will be.
♦ Joe Shute is away