Unplugged, unbothered

As missing out is no longer a deficit but a deliberate act of choosing differently, India is where indulgent escapes are replacing bucket lists.

- BY NEETA LAL

In a world where dopamine is only a swipe away and emails outpace heartbeats, doing nothing has quietly emerged as an act of radical self-preservation. JOMO, or the Joy of Missing Out, has usurped FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as the acronym du jour for those burnt out by hyper-connectivity and content fatigue. Discerning travellers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are opting out of overstimulation and bucket-list checkmarks for spaces that allow them to reconnect with themselves.

"In an age of constant connectivity, choosing to unplug is a form of resistance," notes Delhi-based wellness coach Ridhi Sangma. "JOMO isn't about rejection—it's about recalibration," she says. This shift is nowhere more evident than in India's evolving luxury travel market, currently worth $72.9 billion and projected to surge to $102.8 billion by 2033, according to International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group. Meanwhile, the Global Wellness Institute pegs the wellness tourism sector at around $1.4 trillion, with "transformational travel" emerging as the fastest-growing segment.

India stands out, not only for its biodiversity and ancient healing traditions, but for its ability to repackage both into experiences that feel relevant, restorative, and real. From Bhopal's forested enclaves to the Himalayan foothills and Konkan cliffs, a new vocabulary of stillness is being crafted, one where quietude equates with luxury.

The elegance of enough

Set across 49 acres of lush gardens by Mobor Beach and hemmed by the Sal River, The St. Regis Goa Resort crafts mindful pauses interspersed with tropical luxury. Guests feed koi fish in Zen-like quiet, while tea sessions unfold under frangipani trees. Dinners are rituals, especially when served on Serenity Island, where Goan Mary cocktails are laced with the local Recheado masala and the night sky becomes the guests' ceiling.