Time-sensitive messages should be answered as soon as possible, while you have more time for nonurgent ones. But not that long. Gottsman, speaking "from a polite factor" believes you should respond within a day.
A General Rule of Thumb
A text should be answered within a couple of hours when there is not a time restraint. Keep in mind that if someone is working or exercising or basically out in the field, it may take longer for them to respond.
But you shouldn't take it personally as there could be many reasons behind your guy not texting you back for extended periods. For instance, he might be busy at work or in the personal sphere, hoping that you would text him first, doesn't want to sound needy, or is simply not good with virtual communication.
In a new relationship, a day or even a few days is an acceptable amount of time to be left on read. Remember, you don't really know this person. Maybe their dog died or they're taking a tech sabbath. Give them the benefit of the doubt, both experts agree.
In modern dating, the 24-hour rule has replaced the 3-day rule. Instead of waiting the traditional 3 days to text a girl after a date, send a simple “thank you” text the next day. You can still wait 1-2 days to ask her on a second date, but you want to quickly acknowledge that you enjoyed her company.
"When it comes to texting after a first date, you should text no later than the next day to say you had a great time, or to thank them for their time," Trombetti advises. If you're planning to send your first follow-up message more than 48 hours after the date, "you've waited too long," according to Lee.
Time-sensitive messages should be answered as soon as possible, while you have more time for nonurgent ones. But not that long. Gottsman, speaking "from a polite factor" believes you should respond within a day. "That sounds like a very long time for some people but we all have busy lives."
He could simply be busy or have intended to respond to your text but never got time for it. or, He could be worried that if he starts the texting conversation then he'll end up having to go back and forth with you all day. Many guys don't want to get into a long conversation that lasts all day.
“And anything longer than 12 hours begins to look like something far more problematic — an illness, a crisis, or direct avoidance.” Bottom line: If they take more than 12 hours to respond and don't offer an explanation, you have reason to feel wary. What Reasons Might Your Partner Have For Their Texting Behavior?
Dry texting is what happens when someone gives you short, non-engaging replies in a texting conversation. It can also be super repetitive and just plain boring, says Claudia Cox, a relationship coach and founder of Text Weapon.
If it only sporadically takes her 2 days to respond, you shouldn't necessarily think much of it, especially if they have a mental health condition (i.e., social anxiety, depression, etc). However, if it always takes her multiple days to respond, then I have bad news for you: she's just not interested.
Wait at least one day if you still want to double text.
This gives the person you texted time to respond on their own. If you still haven't heard from them and want to follow up, text them something lighthearted.
In certain fast-paced industries, neglecting to respond to an email for more than an hour is considered a late response.
Slow replies, probably leaving at least a day or two before replying. Even then, a few hours to reply is nothing. You need to understand that not everyone is glued to their phones; people have lives, people have work, people are busy, you get the picture.
Such anxieties don't take long to surface. “On the receiving end of a message, receivers felt pressure to respond immediately or within a reasonable amount of time, typically between 20 minutes to the end of that day, to avoid breaking etiquette and offending the sender,” the paper concluded.
They might need more time and space for themselves before letting you in again. Some guys can go on three days without talking to you. Others might even need a week and that's ok too! As long as you're comfortable with the amount of space that he needs, you don't need to worry about this.
There are many reasons why a guy might stop texting. If he is busy with work, or personal matters, he might just be distracted. Check in with him in a few days to see where his head is at. There is also the possibility that he is not interested, or he is not ready for a relationship.
“It could be busyness (feeling overwhelmed with messages) or underlying anxieties that lead someone to be a bad replier,” she explains. “Sometimes it can also be about control – when we feel anxious and overwhelmed, we might try to take control of the situation i.e. 'It's up to me when I get back to someone'.
Use the 48-hour rule.
If your partner does something hurtful or that makes you angry, it's important to communicate it. If you aren't sure that you want to bring something up, try waiting 48 hours. If it's still bothering you, let them know.
The three day rule still exists. After a first or second date, some men wait three days before calling or even texting you. This is because they don't want to appear over eager.
Popularized by the romcom, the three-day dating rule insists that a person wait three full days before contacting a potential suitor. A first-day text or call is too eager, a second-day contact seems planned, but three days is, somehow, the perfect amount of time.
The theory is that waiting three days makes you look less eager and/or desperate, and gives your date time to realize how much they liked you when they think you might not contact them. Essentially, the three day rule is all about playing hard to get.
So what is the 3 day rule? It's when you text someone you like 3 days after the first date. If you text or call after the 1st date you're allegedly seen as too eager or as my boy calls it, “Thirsty”. If you text or call on day two it seems too calculated.