Mental health experts recommended setting specific time slots for social media use. Limit yourself to one to three instances per day, and make sure they're not right when you wake up or just before bed. "Our minds are very susceptible first thing in the morning, which then clouds your judgment for the rest of the day," explained Tony Ortega, licensed clinical psychologist in New York City. "Reading bad news before bedtime is a recipe for insomnia."
Think of your social media time slots as appointments, said David Carbonell, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in treating anxiety. Check in with a few trusted sources on a fixed, daily schedule. "When you feel an urge to check outside of your schedule, or scan other sources, remind yourself of your plan and continue with your regular activity until your next scheduled time arrives."
"It won't help to check news every 15 minutes," added Jennifer Wolkin, PhD, an NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist. "This won't lead to any more productive action, and will only serve to induce panic." Keep yourself informed but not overloaded, she said. "Saturating on social media can literally overwhelm our brains."
