You're texting someone while scrolling, while watching something, while thinking about something else. The other person can feel it — in your one-word replies, your missed threads, your vague responses.
Close the other tabs.
One conversation, full attention. It sounds simple because it is. It's also rare enough that people notice when you do it. Full presence is a form of respect.
Read the whole message before you reply.
Most half-present replies respond to the beginning of a message and miss the point at the end. Read everything first. Reply to everything. That's presence.
Respond to the feeling, not just the fact.
If someone says 'I failed my exam today,' the fact is the exam. The feeling is everything. 'That sucks, I'm sorry' > 'What subject was it?'
Give people the gift of your actual attention.
It costs you nothing. It transforms the conversation. And when someone feels fully heard, they'll remember that conversation for years.