With technology as our primary way to stay connected, it's important to treat virtual conversations like real ones. You wouldn't take hours to reply back or scroll through Instagram if someone was sitting across from you, and while texting and calling are different modes of communication, the rules still apply. While it's tempting to work on other things while you're on the phone with someone, it's best to put the distractions away. We need human connection and empathy now more than ever, and it's hard to give that if you're checking your email while you listen.