Texting is pretty much everyone’s primary mode of communication these days, so there’s no excuse for being bad at it.
However, some people are — and it can drive you up the wall. If someone in your life is great at texting for a while and then disappears for hours or even days on end, it’s pretty frustrating. However, instead of simmering in your annoyance, here’s how to handle the situation.
1. Figure out if this person’s really worth the hassle.
Take a sec to think about how much this person matters to you. Are they your best friend, or just someone you kinda know? If they’re important, you might want to put in some effort. If not, maybe it’s not worth stressing over their random texts. Life’s too short to chase after every sporadic texter, right?
2. Tell them what’s bugging you.
Source: Unsplash If the sporadic texting is driving you up the wall, speak up! Let them know how you feel. You could say something like, “Hey, I feel a bit out of the loop when we don’t chat for ages.” Being upfront can clear the air. Plus, they might not even realise it’s bothering you — sometimes people need a gentle nudge.
3. Try to get why they text like this.
Source: Unsplash Some people are just not glued to their phones 24/7, as hard as that is to believe. Maybe your friend’s one of those people who forgets their phone exists for days. Understanding their style might help you chill out about it. Who knows, you might even envy their ability to disconnect sometimes!
4. Set some rules for yourself.
Source: Unsplash Decide how long you’re willing to wait for a reply before you start feeling annoyed. Stick to it. This way, you’re in control, not their texting habits. It’s like setting a mental timer — once it goes off, you can choose to move on with your day instead of waiting around.
5. Don’t turn into a detective over their texts.
Source: Unsplash It’s easy to start imagining all sorts of reasons why they’re not texting. Are they mad at you? Super busy? Abducted by aliens? Stop. Just stop. You’ll drive yourself crazy with the guessing game. Your imagination is probably way more dramatic than the real reason anyway.
6. Focus on the good stuff when you do chat.
Source: Unsplash Instead of getting worked up about how often they text, pay attention to what they’re saying when they do. A great convo once in a while beats constant “hey” messages, right? Quality over quantity — it’s not just for chocolate!
7. Keep living your best life.
Source: Unsplash Don’t sit around waiting for their text like it’s the last train home. Get out there, do your thing, see your other friends. A watched phone never pings, or something like that. Besides, having a full life makes you way more interesting to talk to when they do text.
8. Maybe texting’s not their thing?
Source: Unsplash Some people are just rubbish at texting. Why not try calling or meeting up instead? They might be way better at face-to-face chats. You might discover they’re a totally different person in real life — in a good way!
9. Chill out a bit.
Source: Unsplash Take a deep breath. Not everyone can fire off instant replies all day. Give them some time to get back to you without feeling like you’re breathing down their neck. Who knows, you might even enjoy the peace and quiet for a bit.
10. Think about your own texting habits.
Source: Unsplash Are you always Johnny-on-the-spot with your replies? Or do you sometimes take ages too? A little self-reflection might make you more understanding of their habits. You might realise you’re not always the texting saint you thought you were!
11. Don’t play silly texting games.
Thinking of ignoring them back or waiting hours to reply? Don’t. It’s just going to make things weird and probably won’t solve anything. Plus, it’s exhausting trying to keep track of when you’re supposed to reply — ain’t nobody got time for that.
12. Vent to your mates if you need to.
If this sporadic texting is really getting to you, have a whinge to your friends. They might have some good advice, or at least let you get it off your chest. Just don’t let it become the only thing you talk about — your friends might start leaving you on read too!
13. Look at the bigger picture.
Are they a good friend otherwise? Do you have a laugh when you hang out? Don’t let rubbish texting habits ruin an otherwise great relationship. Sometimes, the people who are worst at texting are the best at being there when it really counts.
14. Know when to call it quits.
If you’ve tried everything and their texting still leaves you feeling like chopped liver, it might be time to step back. Your peace of mind is important too, you know. Remember, there are plenty of fish in the sea — and some of them might even text back promptly!
