With our mobiles always within arm’s reach, it can be super easy to become a little too enamored with social media and it can negatively affect our relationships with others. So here are some tips on how to gain control of your social media addiction.

When you stop notifications from disturbing your normal routine, you might find it easier to concentrate on your daily tasks and not get distracted so easily. Notifications are a constant reminder that something is happening in the online world and you might feel like you’re missing out. So to quell your FOMO, turn off your notifications. The bonus is, when you do come around to checking your social media, you may have a build up of more notifications which will make it more exciting and will make the experience more rewarding. Therefore, we suggest that you stop your notifications.

Apart from that you can also set a timer on your watch or phone, to limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Choose a limit depending on the severity of your addiction – say an hour a day, which equates to seven hours per week – and whenever you check your accounts, start your timer going. When you reach your limit, be strong and don’t be tempted to add on extra time. This will be a strong test of your willpower, but it will be worth it in the end.

Moreover, you could invest your time in learning a new skill or doing something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time for. You’ll probably be surprised yourself at how much free time you have when you stop mindlessly scrolling through your newsfeed. Plus your new hobby will keep your mind and hands preoccupied when you’re craving social media.