For new entrepreneurs, social media is often an essential channel for marketing, networking and brand visibility. Yet the same platforms that drive opportunity can also encourage nonstop scrolling, constant comparison and a gradual erosion of focus. Striking the right balance is not only about protecting your time—it’s about establishing sustainable habits that support both business growth and personal well-being.

Here, 20 members of Forbes Coaches Council share practical tips to help new business owners to build a healthy relationship with social media. Their insights below explore how to strike the right balance, highlighting how to use social media effectively without letting it overwhelm one’s priorities or mindset.

1. Tackle Revenue Drivers Before Scrolling

Before you even start the scroll, spend the first hour you are at your desk on the needle movers and revenue generators. That way, you are not using social media as a distraction but as the marketing and sales tool it can be. When you’re clear and focused, you’ll create momentum and confidence and see results, and that feels so much better than scrolling or comparison. – Christine Williams, Shine Wellness LLC

2. Stand Firm In Values, Not Validation

Stop chasing validation and stand for something. Anchor your presence in your values, not the algorithm. Post who you are, not just what performs. Know what matters most, then share with purpose. Don’t chase applause. Build trust. Integrity cuts through noise. Consistency earns loyalty. When your content reflects your core, credibility becomes currency. It’s how values become your viral advantage. – Kristi Staab, Kristi Staab Enterprises

3. Maintain Distance To Spark Originality

Distance is key when logging in. Distancing yourself from the posts you are reading gives you the power to read with a critical eye and, therefore, create content that is out of the box from a different point of view. It also shields you from engaging in infinite scrolling and spending more time than you need to on those tools. – Adriana Gattermayr, BTS

4. Decide Where And How To Show Up

Brand-new business owners have to form a variety of new habits, and having a strategy for leveraging social media is an important one. Take the time to identify which platforms and thought leaders align with your business goals, and then define how much time to interact on a daily or weekly basis. This includes posting, commenting and reading. New owners need to decide how to allocate their limited time. – Kathy Bernhard, KFB Leadership Solutions

5. Outsource Your Presence To An Expert

A new entrepreneur should outsource their social media presence to an expert. They can partner with the expert on creating content, but allow the expert to launch the campaigns and monitor the data analytics. The expert can suggest ways to improve. This allows the entrepreneur to have a healthy relationship with social media while focusing their energy on the product or service they are promoting. – Jill Helmer, Jill Helmer Consulting

6. Be Intentional, Not Reactive

Treat social media like a tool, not a trap. Set disciplined and consistent time blocks to post, engage and then step away. The habit of showing up with intention, not reacting, builds credibility without costing your clarity. Creating space for a mental reset and rejuvenation is just as important as building an online presence. Boundaries are not just protective; they are productive. – Dr. Flo Falayi, Korn Ferry

7. Curb Doomscrolling With ‘Curated’ Feeds

A tip I love is to “curate” your feed. On most platforms, you’re able to create a favorites tab or a personalized search feed, allowing you to access content from creators you enjoy without the doomscrolling. – Tanya Edgar, Tanya Edgar Ltd

8. Focus On Impact, Not Comparison

Entrepreneurs should see social media as a stage for thought leadership, not comparison. To minimize the scroll and maximize impact, set strict time blocks for posting and engaging, batch-create content in advance, and track value-added interactions instead of likes. Focus on sharing insights, building credibility and connecting with purpose. This will keep your energy focused on maximum impact. – Robert Gauvreau, Gauvreau | Accounting Tax Law Advisory

9. Create With Purpose Before Consuming

A smart tip for new business owners is to create before you consume. Block time for content creation and engagement with clear goals, then log off. This keeps your social media use purposeful and prevents mindless scrolling. Focus on building your brand, not comparing it to others’ highlight reels. – Yasir Hashmi, The Hashmi Group

10. Set Time-Limited Boundaries

Set clear boundaries: Schedule intentional social media work hours for posting and engagement, then log out. Treat it like any other business task—focused, purposeful and time-limited—so it drives growth without draining energy through endless scrolling and comparison. – Jaide Massin, Soar Executive Coaching LLC

11. Log In With Discipline To Guard Focus

Treat social media like the business tool it is—not background noise. Before logging in, know your purpose: connect, create or research. Set a timer, post with intention, engage meaningfully, then step away. Focus is an entrepreneur’s greatest asset; guard it fiercely. Discipline and authenticity build a strong brand. – Lisa L. Baker, Ascentim

12. Invest Time In Building A Unique Vision

Understanding your brand, its current mission and your present position in the business is essential. This approach transforms potential distractions into strategic opportunities. Your time is your most valuable asset; therefore, it is important to invest in developing your own unique vision rather than comparing or imitating others’ highlight reels. – Lori Huss, Lori Huss Coaching and Consulting

13. Use It For Communication, Not Comparison

For new entrepreneurs, social media should never be about random scrolling but intentional communication. Define the goal of each interaction—inform, inspire or sell—and schedule specific times for content creation. By focusing on purpose instead of comparison, platforms become growth engines that amplify your brand instead of draining your motivation. – José Luís González Rodriguez, ActionCOACH

14. Align Your Online Presence And Personal Values

A healthy relationship with social media begins with a healthy relationship with yourself. What may appear as a minor digital habit often reflects deeper patterns tied to mindset, focus, strategic clarity and overall mental well-being. Engaging a professional coach can help you build intentional boundaries and align your online presence with your personal values. – Andrea Hrusovska, HR4U Solutions LLC

15. Commit To A Sustainable Posting Schedule

Avoid committing to a posting schedule you can’t realistically maintain. Many people start with high energy when promoting themselves on social media, but that momentum often fades, leading to guilt or burnout. Instead, consider outsourcing your social media or creating a posting schedule that’s sustainable over the long term. – Megan Malone, Truity

16. Treat Social Media Like A Gym Session

A smart trick for a new business owner is to treat social media like a gym session; that is, to schedule it, set a timer, work on a goal, and then leave. This reframes usage as deliberate practice rather than digital grazing. Create before you consume, and always log off after posting something of value. You are there to build, not binge—to consume, not be consumed. – Thomas Lim, Centre for Systems Leadership (SIM Academy)

17. Balance Online And Offline Interaction

When social media starts to exclude actual interactions with people, you know you need to shift the balance. Do this by mimicking an offline presence, too. For every hour you spend on social media, match it with an hour engaging your audience in real life, such as meeting someone for coffee, attending an event or hosting a masterclass. Forge real relationships by turning digital traction into tangible trust. – Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory

18. Only Engage With Business-Relevant Content

Follow only accounts that either help you gain knowledge or help you learn about your target audiences. Unfollow all of those that don’t belong to your line of business. Engage with business-relevant content only. The algorithm will eventually shift to recommendations that help you grow your business. For friends and family, use a different account and limit your engagement there to 30 minutes, max, per day. – Nav Thethi, The Nav Thethi

19. Do Monthly Planning Sessions

Be aware that much of what you see on social media is exaggerated or simply nonsense. Don’t let it distort your sense of progress. Focus on your mid- and long-term goals instead. A smart habit: Plan and schedule your content in dedicated sessions once a month. This keeps your presence consistent while freeing you from daily distractions and unhelpful comparisons. – Stephan Lendi, Newbury Media & Communications GmbH

20. Share Your Voice, Then Step Away To Build Your Vision

Use social media as a stage, not a mirror. Create before you consume. Set sacred time aside to share your voice, then step away to build your vision. Comparison drains clarity—your power lies in authenticity, not algorithms. Post with purpose, scroll with awareness, and never confuse someone else’s highlight reel with your path. Lead your presence—don’t let it lead you. – Alejandro Bravo, Revelatio360

This article was originally posted on Forbes.com.