The Unexpected Benefits of Actually Calling Someone

3 min readThe options for communication are endless. Getting in touch with someone has never been easier, which also means we are subject to frequent digital conversations we'd rather not have. You can thank our overlords in Big Tech for that. Friends, family, enemies, and strangers alike can pepper open inboxes with questions and concerns ranging from the unnecessary to full-scale attacks on your character, tastes, and loosely held opinions. Nearly 90 percent of Americans use text messaging or messaging apps daily, with 29 percent saying they’re texting more than they were one year ago, according to a 2026 YouGov study. Even with notifications turned off, they lurk in the background, and the social pressure to respond is hard for almost anyone to ignore.But there is an anecdote to this scourge of modern life.As an older millennial, I am part of the generation that remembers when the internet changed our lives, but I also experienced defining moments using a simple telephone. Even in the infant stages of the internet, the humble telephone, attached via cord that plugged into a wall, was the conduit for good and bad news; it was how we made plans, and how relationships grew and solidified. I spent hours with the handset cradled between my teenage double chin and shoulder, plotting to see bands play, staying up too late talking to girls, and calling phone sex hotlines to see if they were real. (They were.)What younger generations don’t understand—to their detriment—is that the immediacy and intimacy of the phone call produce different results than a text or direct message. Imagine asking your crush to prom and getting three dots on the screen over and over, your stomach doing backflips as you wait for a yes or no. The phone call is the communication version of getting punched in the face. Your knee-jerk reactions are on display. The ear on the other end of the receiver can sense emotions: anger, reluctance, joy, excitement. You feel all of it innately without FaceTime video.As adults, there are several instances—even today, especially today—for which a phone call is superior to a text message. One of the greatest is simply catching up with an old friend. Seriously, when’s the last time you cold called a buddy? Thirty minutes on the blower with one of your besties can be exhilarating; you cover far more ground with less wrist pain, and you can do it while driving or sitting as a passenger princess, putting your wired earbuds to good use. Yes, the shock of seeing your name appear might cause a moment of panic in your friend—who died? But they’ll get over it fast, and quickly you’ll fall into an easy conversation. Don’t over think it; just call someone.In business, the phone call is even more crucial. If you can get someone on the phone, they almost have to give you an answer. Even if it isn’t the one you want to hear, you can move on with your life and stop sending follow-up emails every 48 hours. Efficiency is king, and the phone can help. After all, there’s a reason that in nearly every photo of a captain of industry he or she is walking and talking on a phone. They didn’t get to where they are through text alone. Plus, if you’re under 30, the person on the other end might even be impressed that made the effort top pick up the phone and call. They’ll certainly remember you!Of course, nostalgia plays a part, but I’m not suggesting you buy an old-school phone and hook it up to the nearest wall. Let’s focus on the practice; you’re iPhone has a calling function. Use it more frequently. Sometimes the newest thing isn’t the best. We have yet to improve on the phone call. Don’t be scared to call someone or to answer when it rings. Pick up and be happy someone is on the other side. That’s a blessing in its own right.