Buzz
You're having a fun conversation or nervously sending the first text to a girl, and she says, "I'll text you later!" What does she mean? Should you wait for her to text back, or should you continue sending messages?
You might feel disappointed or impatient when she suddenly stops responding, but with a little strategic finesse, you can keep her interest calmly and confidently. Let’s break down what she means and what you should do when she says, "I'll text you later."
Steps
Interpret "I'll text you later" as "I'm busy right now."
Understand that she might just be busy or distracted. That's it. Don't overthink it. Don't analyze the last messages you sent. Nowadays, everyone is flooded with texts, notifications, and alerts. She might just want to take a break from technology for a while. Here are some common reasons why she might not text back immediately:
- She could be busy with work, school, family, or friends.
- Her phone might have lost signal.
- She might not want to be glued to her phone all day.
- She might not know how to craft the "perfect" reply yet.
Wait for 1-2 days before sending another message.
Give her some space and time to respond. We understand this isn't easy, but think of it this way: by giving her time and space, you're demonstrating two things. First, you're showing her that you're not overly desperate. Second, you're proving that you can meet her needs and respect her wishes. If she wants a little time before replying, go ahead and accommodate her!
Go do other things.
Distract yourself and enjoy your life. There's nothing worse than sitting around all day waiting for your dream girl to reply to your message. But guess what? There are plenty of other things you can do! Once you realize you have a fun and fulfilling life, she'll also sense your confidence and independence when you two chat. Here are some activities to take your mind off her:
- Explore a new café or restaurant.
- Message a friend.
- Do a short workout.
- Engage in activities with others. Help a neighbor, family member, or volunteer.
Send another message if you need information about the schedule.
If you're arranging a date, you don't need to wait 24 hours. Wait a few hours if possible, but if you need a quick response to finalize plans, let her know. This is especially helpful if you asked her about making plans and she replied, 'I'll text you later.'
- Joke with her: 'Don't overthink it!'
- Mention the plans you're considering: 'I get it, choosing between the beach or a café isn't easy.'
- Explain why you need a response: 'Are we still on for Tuesday night? Let me know because I need to buy tickets.'
Send a fun follow-up message to encourage her to reply.
After a day, you can restart the conversation with a humorous message. Instead of sending a serious text like 'Are you okay?', keep the tone light. She'll likely apologize and explain why she hasn't replied yet.
- 'If you're too scared to text me back, I get it. People say I have a powerful aura.'
- 'I'm about to give you a zero in texting class.' Note: Only use this type of message if you both often joke like this. Otherwise, she might think you're picking a fight.
Ask a short, random question to reignite the conversation.
Ask a silly question to get her to respond. After giving her some time, continue the conversation if she still hasn't replied. Instead of trying to pick up from the last message, you can start a new topic. Keep it fun to build rapport and keep her engaged.
- 'Hey, if we could go anywhere together, where would you want to go?'
- 'If you could have any superpower, what would it be?'
- 'Who do you think is the best zombie actor?'
Grab her attention by sharing something interesting.
Send her an exciting update about your life. Use this tactic to draw her back in. It’s even better if you include something cool you’ve done and back it up with a photo.
- Try a curious approach: 'You won’t believe who I ran into today…'
- Talk about delicious food: 'Just had the best sandwich of my life. Guess where I found it.'
- Send a photo of you doing something: 'Just crossed off bungee jumping from my bucket list.'
Check if you sent a tense message or if there was an argument.
Did you send a message that was too intense? If she texted 'I’ll text you later' out of anger, wait a few hours. Then, if you need to apologize, do so. If you hurt her feelings, check in to see how she’s doing now. Depending on the emotional level, a phone call might be better.
- 'Hey. I know my last messages were heated. Are you okay?'
- 'I’m really sorry about those messages. That wasn’t cool.'
- 'Can we talk on the phone? I feel terrible about what I said.'
Wait a bit before responding if she texts back.
Stay calm and don’t reply immediately. If she texts back after a few hours, it’s best to wait a few minutes before responding. Don’t bring up the delay. Just continue the conversation as if it was never interrupted.
Send short messages for quicker responses.
Keep your messages limited to about 3 lines. She might find it hard to respond to long texts or think you’re coming on too strong. Similarly, avoid heavy topics in your messages. While some people enjoy deep conversations over text, if you don’t know her well yet, hold off on sending such messages.
- Be concise when she asks what you’re up to: 'Just hanging out with friends. Having pizza tonight! How about you?'
- Ask only one question per message to avoid overwhelming her: 'How was your weekend?' instead of 'How was your weekend? Did you have any fun plans?'
Send only one message at a time.
As a general rule, avoid sending multiple messages in a row. Two or three texts at once can come off as clingy and increase the risk of her stopping her response or saying, 'I’ll text you later.' An exception to this rule is if she replies immediately. In that case, you can send multiple messages, as long as she’s doing the same.
Imagine you're just texting a friend.
If you feel tense waiting for her reply, take a deep breath and relax. It's natural to feel nervous when messaging someone you like. Instead of thinking, 'I'm texting her,' picture yourself texting a friend. This approach will make your messages feel more natural, and you won't stress over how quickly or slowly she responds.
- Share a funny GIF or meme.
- Ask for advice as a conversation starter: 'Can you give me some advice?'
- Avoid interrogative questions. Add comments to your questions, like: 'I was thinking about the movie we watched in psychology class. It was pretty weird, right?'
Move on if 'I'll text you later' becomes a pattern.
Forget her if she stops replying or keeps saying she'll text back later. It's fine if she occasionally misses a message or replies slowly. However, if she consistently ignores your texts, says she'll reply later (but never does), or reads your messages without responding, she's likely not interested. Trust your instincts and be kind to yourself by moving on. There's someone out there who truly deserves you!
- Don't take it personally. She might just not be in the right headspace to connect with anyone right now.
