diff --git a/foodie_engagement_tweet.py b/foodie_engagement_tweet.py
index 04ef41f..073e0f3 100644
--- a/foodie_engagement_tweet.py
+++ b/foodie_engagement_tweet.py
@@ -414,6 +414,10 @@ def post_engagement_tweet():
                         save_post_counts(post_counts)
                     else:
                         logging.warning(f"Failed to post engagement tweet for {username}")
+                    
+                    # Add a 5-second delay between posts to avoid rate limits
+                    time.sleep(5)
+                    
                 except Exception as e:
                     logging.error(f"Error posting engagement tweet for {username}: {e}", exc_info=True)
                     continue
diff --git a/foodie_utils.py b/foodie_utils.py
index 3042632..2e3d000 100644
--- a/foodie_utils.py
+++ b/foodie_utils.py
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ def post_tweet(author, tweet, reply_to_id=None):
     import logging
     import tweepy
     from datetime import datetime, timezone
+    import time
+    import random
+    from tweepy.errors import TooManyRequests
 
     username = author["username"]
     if username not in X_API_CREDENTIALS:
@@ -260,6 +263,9 @@ def post_tweet(author, tweet, reply_to_id=None):
         logging.warning(f"Daily post limit (20) reached for {username}")
         return False
 
+    max_retries = 3
+    retry_delay = 5  # Initial delay in seconds
+
     try:
         client = tweepy.Client(
             consumer_key=credentials["api_key"],
@@ -267,24 +273,75 @@ def post_tweet(author, tweet, reply_to_id=None):
             access_token=credentials["access_token"],
             access_token_secret=credentials["access_token_secret"]
         )
-        response = client.create_tweet(
-            text=tweet,
-            in_reply_to_tweet_id=reply_to_id
-        )
-        # Update post counts
-        author_count["monthly_count"] += 1
-        author_count["daily_count"] += 1
-        save_post_counts(post_counts)
-        logging.info(f"Posted tweet for {username} (handle: {credentials['x_username']}): {tweet}")
-        logging.debug(f"Tweet ID: {response.data['id']}")
-        return {"id": response.data["id"]}
-    except tweepy.TweepyException as e:
-        logging.error(f"Failed to post tweet for {username} (handle: {credentials['x_username']}): {e}")
-        if hasattr(e, 'response') and e.response:
-            logging.error(f"Twitter API response: {e.response.text}")
-            if "forbidden" in str(e).lower():
-                logging.error(f"Possible causes: invalid credentials, insufficient permissions, or account restrictions for {credentials['x_username']}")
-        return False
+
+        for attempt in range(max_retries + 1):
+            try:
+                response = client.create_tweet(
+                    text=tweet,
+                    in_reply_to_tweet_id=reply_to_id
+                )
+                # Log rate limit headers on success
+                if hasattr(client, 'session') and client.session.last_response:
+                    rate_limit_headers = {
+                        "x-rate-limit-limit": client.session.last_response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-limit"),
+                        "x-rate-limit-remaining": client.session.last_response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-remaining"),
+                        "x-rate-limit-reset": client.session.last_response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-reset"),
+                    }
+                    logging.debug(f"Rate limit headers after posting for {username}: {rate_limit_headers}")
+                else:
+                    logging.debug("No rate limit headers available in response")
+
+                # Update post counts
+                author_count["monthly_count"] += 1
+                author_count["daily_count"] += 1
+                save_post_counts(post_counts)
+                logging.info(f"Posted tweet for {username} (handle: {credentials['x_username']}): {tweet}")
+                logging.debug(f"Tweet ID: {response.data['id']}")
+                return {"id": response.data["id"]}
+
+            except TooManyRequests as e:
+                if attempt == max_retries:
+                    logging.error(f"Failed to post tweet for {username} after {max_retries} retries due to rate limit")
+                    return False
+
+                # Log rate limit headers on failure
+                rate_limit_headers = {}
+                if hasattr(e, 'response') and e.response:
+                    rate_limit_headers = {
+                        "x-rate-limit-limit": e.response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-limit"),
+                        "x-rate-limit-remaining": e.response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-remaining"),
+                        "x-rate-limit-reset": e.response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-reset"),
+                    }
+                    logging.debug(f"Rate limit headers after failed post for {username}: {rate_limit_headers}")
+
+                # Determine wait time based on reset header or fallback to exponential backoff
+                reset_time = rate_limit_headers.get("x-rate-limit-reset")
+                if reset_time:
+                    wait_time = int(reset_time) - int(time.time()) + 1
+                    wait_time = max(wait_time, 1)  # Ensure we wait at least 1 second
+                else:
+                    wait_time = retry_delay * (2 ** attempt) + random.uniform(0, 1)  # Exponential backoff with jitter
+
+                logging.warning(
+                    f"Rate limit exceeded for {username}. Attempt {attempt + 1}/{max_retries}. "
+                    f"Waiting {wait_time:.2f} seconds before retrying..."
+                )
+                time.sleep(wait_time)
+
+            except tweepy.TweepyException as e:
+                logging.error(f"Failed to post tweet for {username} (handle: {credentials['x_username']}): {e}")
+                if hasattr(e, 'response') and e.response:
+                    logging.error(f"Twitter API response: {e.response.text}")
+                    rate_limit_headers = {
+                        "x-rate-limit-limit": e.response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-limit"),
+                        "x-rate-limit-remaining": e.response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-remaining"),
+                        "x-rate-limit-reset": e.response.headers.get("x-rate-limit-reset"),
+                    }
+                    logging.debug(f"Rate limit headers after failed post for {username}: {rate_limit_headers}")
+                    if "forbidden" in str(e).lower():
+                        logging.error(f"Possible causes: invalid credentials, insufficient permissions, or account restrictions for {credentials['x_username']}")
+                return False
+
     except Exception as e:
         logging.error(f"Unexpected error posting tweet for {username} (handle: {credentials['x_username']}): {e}", exc_info=True)
         return False