I typically spend a few minutes crafting my initial message to ensure it's clear and prompts a straightforward response, like "Yes, I can help," "No, but I know someone who can," or "I'm not sure what you're asking for." During the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of these types of exchanges increased, and I found messages lacking clear intent—just a "hello," for instance—particularly stressful. Initially, I wondered if this stress stemmed from personal overload or a lack of activity. However, after seeing others offer similar advice, I realized the issue wasn't with me but with the content of the messages themselves.
I typically spend a few minutes crafting my initial message to ensure it's clear and prompts a straightforward response, like "Yes, I can help," "No, but I know someone who can," or "I'm not sure what you're asking for." During the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of these types of exchanges increased, and I found messages lacking clear intent—just a "hello," for instance—particularly stressful. Initially, I wondered if this stress stemmed from personal overload or a lack of activity. However, after seeing others offer similar advice, I realized the issue wasn't with me but with the content of the messages themselves.
Absolutely. Particularly if we respond and then wait several minutes for their response that then comes hours later and we go around the loop again.