To NOT always be surgically attached to my phone

[niceduvet]

I have two friends plus my husband who expect me always to respond to their phone messages immediately and become disgruntled if they can't get hold of me instantly or if I don't reply straight away. I do try always to get back to them as soon as I can. I've tried to explain that often I'm in work meetings or maybe even in the bath (how dare I want some me time), but even that doesn't seem to cut it with them! It's really starting to p*ss me off. AIBU?

Sound permanently off. Phone often in a different room for hours at a time (especially at the weekend). I consider tracking to be the work of the devil, so would never use it.

My phone is there for my convenience, not for me to be a slave to it, and nothing is ever so urgent that folk can"t wait a few hours for a reply. If I had someone hassling me to respond quickly, I'd be inclined to leave them waiting even longer, just to be awkward!

Oh and one of my family friends now only responds to WhatsApp messages

I found this out because he was annoyed no one let him know about mum's last hospitalisation. I had sent him a text and been surprised he didn't reply.

this thing that people have lots of platforms is quite annoying. He got in a flap because he phoned her a few times over three days...then he called me and said "is everything okay"...I said I'd sent him a regular text message but he just doesn't look at them anymore.

I made the mistake of getting involved in several group chats during Covid and by god I hate the bloody things I now keep all chats muted and only message people when it suits me . I like to use my phone to go on MN and forums relating to my hobby and to watch you tube or read product reviews . Ironically the people who claim they have no time for constructive things always seem to be on messaging apps all day and night but if you tell them you are doing something say going to do a workout video they would say they don’t have time for that !