The same day response rule – has it completely been forgotten?

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, professional communication has undergone a seismic shift. The advent of emails, instant messaging, and social media has revolutionised how we connect with one another. Amidst this digital transformation, the concept of the "same day response rule" emerged as practice for maintaining effective and timely communication. But recently some of our members have noticed a change in behaviour, leading us at The Like-Minded Collective to question whether this rule has been forgotten in the hustle and bustle of modern life?

There is no doubt that the digital age has granted us unprecedented convenience in communication. With just a few taps on our phones, we have the ability to send messages across the globe instantaneously. However, this convenience has also given rise to certain challenges. The constant stream of messages can lead to an overwhelming backlog, making it increasingly difficult to keep up with the same day response rule.

So, why then are some of our members ‘forgetting’ the same day response rule? We have heard from a lot of working women that for starters, their priorities are changing. This can lead to messages being deprioritized, inadvertently causing breaches of the same day response rule. Expectation management is also a concern, given that instant communication has cultivated an expectation of immediate responses, which simply may not be feasible. Information overload is also an issue, as women shared that the constant bombardment of information from various sources causes messages to be buried or forgotten (causing delays in responses). Most commonly however, was a concern for work-life balance. A constant demand for immediate responses blurs the boundaries between people’s work and personal life.

However, some of our members have said that despite the challenges, the same day response rule still holds undeniable value.

The question then, is whether the same day response rule is evolving. Members in our Collective have said that rather than doing away with the rule altogether, we can implement strategies to ensure that both demands are met. These include prioritisation, setting realistic expectations, scheduling check-ins and ensuring that we take periodic breaks from constant digital messaging to avoid burnout. One of the most commonly cited tips that came up from our members was replying ‘instantly’ to acknowledge receipt of the email, alongside a timeframe with which you will be able to circle back with a thoughtful response.

Let us know your thoughts on the rule’s relevance in modern day life, and whether you implement any strategies to ensure effective interactions in the digital landscape.