I would be a fan of that, too. It would be nice to show unavailable when we just don’t feel like a chat. I work for myself, so my time may not belong to an employer, but there are still spaces where I’m not available. I do understand that more than one message may not seem like multiple messages and should be taken altogether, but when it’s been communicated that you are busy and can’t respond, continued frequent messages can become a major stressor.

I think the best friendships are the kind that allow for the space we need sometimes, with the full understanding that we care and want to continue the friendship but still have to prioritize our day-to-day lives in the way that works best for us without having to drop everything any time someone reaches out.

Thanks so much for reading! I loved your addendum to my list.