Set a 10-Minute Timer Before Opening Social Media

When the urge to check Instagram or Twitter hits, do not fight it head-on. Instead, tell yourself: "I can open it in 10 minutes." Set a timer and go back to what you were doing.

More often than not, the urge will pass before the timer goes off. This works because most social media impulses are not real needs — they are fleeting discomfort seeking easy relief. A small delay is often all it takes to break the cycle.