It seems that since smartphones like the iPhone came into our hands, we have been using text messages almost as naturally as breathing.

In the past, to contact someone, you had to be right next to the home phone, and if you couldn't meet at the agreed place, you had to leave a note.

But these days, we send and receive texts with one hand while lying in bed as soon as we wake up, while waiting for someone anywhere, and even while cooking dinner.

Starting with the positives, the first is 'immediacy'.

If something happens, you can send a message right away, and since you can check if the other person has read it, there's no frustration.

The second is that 'there's a record of the conversation'. In the past, if you forgot the meeting place or date, you had to call again, but now you can just look through your texts to find everything.

Addresses, phone numbers, recipes, and even website links are all saved, so there's no need for a notebook.

The third is 'expressiveness'. Instead of just saying "thank you", sending a cute heart emoji or a smiling face makes the atmosphere much softer.

With photos and videos attached, it feels even more vivid than words.

However, there are many inconveniences as well. The biggest one is 'reply pressure'.

If the read receipt shows but there's no reply, it turns from "Why haven't you read it?" to "You read it, but why haven't you replied?".

This can lead to unnecessary hurt feelings. Also, short messages can create misunderstandings.

What was meant to be written with a smile can sometimes come off as blunt when read. Additionally, receiving work messages late at night or on weekends can completely ruin the feeling of relaxation.

When I open my phone startled by a notification, it often turns out to be something I could have seen on Monday.

Since we communicate only through texts, it's also disappointing that there are fewer topics to discuss when we actually meet.

In the past, I would chat for a long time when meeting friends, but these days, we've already talked about everything through texts, so we just say, "Yeah, I saw that" and move on.

Sometimes, even when we chat closely through texts, it can feel awkward when we meet in person due to a lack of conversation topics, haha.

So, I have set some personal rules these days.

Only send messages when absolutely necessary, discuss work matters only during work hours, and when emotions run high, take a moment before writing.

Texting is indeed convenient, but if used incorrectly, it can strain relationships and cause stress.

Ultimately, balance is key. It's important to embrace convenience while minimizing discomfort.

That's the know-how for effectively sending and receiving texts.