Social media helps us stay connected, informed, and entertained. But excessive or unstructured use can sometimes contribute to stress, anxiety, poor sleep, and mental fatigue. You may notice: • Constantly checking notifications • Comparing yourself with others • Fear of missing out (FOMO) • Feeling inadequate after scrolling • Difficulty concentrating on other tasks • Losing track of time online • Checking your phone immediately after waking • Staying online late at night • Feeling restless when away from your phone Social media often shows selected highlights of other people’s lives. Repeated comparison with these carefully presented images can increase self-doubt, stress, and dissatisfaction for some people. Setting screen-time boundaries, turning off unnecessary notifications, avoiding social media close to bedtime, taking regular digital breaks, and unfollowing content that consistently increases distress can help promote healthier use. Social media itself is not necessarily harmful. What matters is how it is used and how it affects your sleep, mood, relationships, productivity, and daily life. Recognising your digital habits can be an important part of stress management and better mental health. Dr. Aditya Patil | Consultant Psychiatrist Mana Sajjana Clinic, Pimple Saudagar, Pune 9975573437