Sending text messages is very easy; the difficult thing is to do it correctly, surprising as it may seem. With the conveniences that technological advancements provide, it's not uncommon for people to be so driven by instant gratification. This, coupled with the need to be constantly entertained, makes people succumb to the traps of being more annoying than they admit to being. Surprisingly, there are a few ways to redeem yourself once you've been labeled "annoying."
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Avoid sending so many text messages
Step 1. Take a break from your cell phone and turn off the power
Take a day and travel to a place where there is no phone connection available to make it more difficult for you to send messages. This is a great way to detoxify your obsessive habits and suddenly start over.
- Go hiking outside the city alone or with a friend. The signal will be irregular, so you will have time to connect with yourself and stop being so clinging to your cell phone to check who is contacted or not every five minutes.
- As a less dramatic option to detox your phone, turn off your phone's power by turning it off or putting it in airplane mode for 24 hours. This will allow you to stop using the cell phone without having to get rid of it.
Step 2. Exercise
In some moments, you will look at the phone or want to send another message to a person who has not answered you yet. Clear your mind completely by releasing emotions through exercise. Physical activity releases the endorphins that fuel the stress of texting.
- While you can enjoy one of your favorite sports, you can go further by taking an active role in a game, rather than watching it on television. Play a game of tennis or a game of basketball. Even if you are not a good player, you will feel much better with this distraction.
- Take a kick-boxing, spinning, or ballet class. In addition to getting the benefits of releasing endorphins, you will gain a sense of confidence by developing a new skill.
Step 3. Do a creative project
Take your hands away from the phone and occupy them to create something. Stop focusing on who writes to you or not, and occupy your mind when bringing a Pinterest project to life.
- Make a craft project around the house to add pretty decorations to your space.
- Take some time to develop new skills with an instrument you've always wanted to play.
Step 4. Meet your friends
Of course, texting allows you to instantly connect with others, but it will never replace real-time interactions. Put technology aside and spend the day with your friends.
- Strengthen your relationship through personal communications when shopping, dining out for sushi, going to the movies, or dancing at a club.
- Make it a rule that no one can use the phone during outings. Together we are strong, and it will be easier to clear your mind of texting if everyone is busy having a good time.
Step 5. Put down the phone
Using the phone at all times is not necessary for life, and treating it as if it were is one of the fastest ways to annoy those around you. Practice self-control regarding when and how you use the phone to send text messages.
- Texting in a social context (such as classes, meetings, work, lunch, or dinner) is disrespectful behavior towards others. Read or respond to messages only in emergency situations and only answer calls from your family members.
- Limit sending messages in contexts where it is a nuisance to you and the people around you (for example, do not do it in the cinema).
Step 6. Don't text while driving
Composing, reading or sending a message while driving is not appropriate. Every day, there are an alarming number of car accidents because drivers believe they can use the phone while driving. However, it is a danger both for you and for all drivers on the road.
- The good thing about texting is that its nature indicates that it is not an urgent form of communication, so you can wait.
- Do not use the phone during red lights or traffic stops. Doing so will take your eyes off the road, and this can be annoying for drivers who need to get somewhere.
- Use the "bluetooth" and hands-free options if you need to use the phone while driving. If you don't have these features, leave your phone entirely or put it in a compartment in the car so you don't use it while driving.
Method 2 of 3: Improve Your Texting Skills
Step 1. Avoid abbreviations
Word abbreviations are an excellent technique for sending a message faster. However, too many can make messages virtually unreadable, and the person receiving them may not be able to understand you.
- Some abbreviations ("ok", "q") are acceptable. Try to write the whole words with only a few abbreviations in the middle. For example, you can write "Ok, what are you doing today?" You should always use more whole words than abbreviations.
- Avoid using too many abbreviations in text messages. Otherwise, your message might read like "K, qrs go to l prk?". If the person must concentrate to decipher your message, check your use of abbreviations.
- Do not abbreviate messages to your professional contacts. This is the fastest way to convey immaturity and unprofessionalism.
Step 2. Review your message before sending it
Texting is all about being quick and effective, but not to the point of error. Even the smallest mistakes can make it difficult for the person receiving the message to understand it. Use the automatic proofreader to complete sentences faster and without errors. However, you should always make sure to check all the text.
Step 3. Make sure you have something to say if you start a conversation
If you ask "How's it going?" and the other person responds "All good. You?" Tell him something funny that happened to you that day. Don't answer "Good," or use monosyllabic responses. Otherwise, the person will wonder what you wrote to them for.
- Don't send messages for no reason. People will notice if you wear them to hang out or because you really care about them and want to know how they are. Write detailed and engaging messages. Do it sincerely or don't.
- If you notice that the person responds with a single word, it may be a sign that they have nothing to talk about or that they do not feel like doing so. Send him a message at another time.
Step 4. Use punctuation without exaggeration
It's okay to use question marks after a question or exclamation marks occasionally. However, many question marks are not convenient. Don't put five question marks at the beginning and end of every sentence.
Step 5. Limit the use of emoticons
Sometimes people find it cute to add 10 winking faces or 10 kisses after a short message or in replacement of words. Other people think this is annoying. If necessary, use emoticons to add emphasis once or twice at any given time.
Method 3 of 3: Practice Correct Etiquette
Step 1. Keep a reasonable proportion
The relationship of the messages must always be proportionate. This means that for every message you receive, you can send one in reply. If you receive two messages, you can reply to two. However, never send more messages than you receive (and vice versa). This is the fastest way to appear needy or desperate.
Step 2. Avoid sending too many text messages
There is nothing worse than opening the phone and viewing a large number of text messages of more than one paragraph. Be aware if you notice that your messages are very long, edit them, and avoid annoying others with this trend.
- Don't text someone several times a day to ask about their life, unless they are close friends. If you ask "How are you?" or what are you doing?" three or more times a day, there is something you do wrong.
- Text messages do not replace telephone or face-to-face conversations, so if you want to share a lot of details, better reserve them for something other than messages. Important details could be lost through this medium.
Step 3. Avoid emotional interactions via text message
Never send a message if one of the two is angry or upset. The tone can be misinterpreted, prolonging the confrontation and negative emotions. Defuse the situation faster by chatting later or continuing the dialogue through a call.
Step 4. Keep the schedule in mind
Getting a message before noon can be a bit annoying, especially on weekends when people want to get a little more sleep. At these times, messages can interrupt the break.
- A good idea is to send messages at times when you think it would be appropriate to call a home phone. You wouldn't call someone before noon or after 10:30 p.m. m., right? Adopt this general rule of thumb for texting. If it's a friend you've known for a long time, there may be some flexibility with this guideline. Be discret.
- On the other hand, sending a message after midnight could indicate that you are dependent, have gotten drunk or want to flirt. These are signals that you don't want to send.
Step 5. Reply to the messages you receive
This is the correct and polite thing to do. Sometimes not getting an answer can be just as upsetting as getting too many. Make an effort to respond to the messages you receive in a timely manner.
Step 6. Respect the limits of others
If a person doesn't respond, they may be busy or not want to talk to you. Regardless of the case, respect their decision not to want to talk to you.
- Just as you would in daily face-to-face interactions, allow the person you are writing to show you your next move. Once you send a message, don't write again until you get a reply.
- Also, avoid annoying behaviors that undermine the other's attempts to distance yourself from your messages. Don't rewrite with a different comment or question, don't send a question mark a minute later, and don't send the same message again an hour later. Note that he has definitely received your message.
- If your friend tells you that he will write to you later, and you haven't received a message all day, avoid writing "Good evening" to remind him that you are still waiting for his reply. This is passive aggressive behavior.
Advice
- If a person shares something with you that they feel is bad or sad, don't tell them it's normal. Instead, show that you agree and try to comfort her.
- If you text someone too often or say nonsensical things that they won't mind, don't be surprised if they don't respond or say, "I have things to do. Bye."
- During a text message conversation with a friend or anyone, if you receive monosyllabic responses like “yes”, “good”, etc., understand that there is no interest in the topic or in talking to you.
- If the person says, "I have to go," leave the conversation at that. You can reply with a goodbye, but anything else will upset her and she won't want to write to you for a while.
- Don't text someone to say good morning if they said they don't like texting very much. You could be annoying.