CHARLOTTE – This is part of an ongoing series.

Create boundaries and stick to them.

Once you have an intention set for how you want to use social media and specifically how you want to use each platform then it’s time to create boundaries for the amount of time you spend on social media and how you use that time as well.

Social media is designed to keep your attention and it better and better at doing just that every day. Think about how much time you want to spend on each platform each day or social media altogether and find a way to keep track. There are plenty of apps and tools to help you accomplish this. I highly recommend using a tool to help you measure your time because it’s very easy to underestimate how long we’ve been scrolling.

Aside from time, set a boundary on content, as in the type of content you will consume and the type of content you will produce. Create guidelines for yourself. If you want to share family updates on Facebook, decide how often or what types of information will be ok or off-limits.

Perhaps the most important boundary to set for yourself is how you’ll interact and engage with other users. Create a policy for when and if you’ll read through comments or comment yourself and stick to it. I often advise others to sit on their hands to avoid breaking a personal policy. It’s never worth breaking a promise to yourself.