When you receive a message that is not urgent, wait one hour before responding. This delay gives you time to think. It prevents reactive, emotional responses. It allows you to craft a thoughtful reply instead of a quick one.
Most messages do not require immediate response. The sender can wait an hour. The world will not end. But your response will be better because you took time to think about it.
This practice also reduces the sense of urgency that constant messaging creates. You are not always on call. You respond when you are ready, not when the notification arrives.
Try it today. When you receive a non-urgent message, set a timer for one hour. Then respond. Notice how much more thoughtful your responses become when you give yourself time to think.