Replying instantly, every single time

If your reply lands within three seconds of his, consistently, you've trained him out of anticipation — and anticipation is one of the most powerful drivers of attraction. There is nothing wrong with enthusiasm; the problem is when the pattern becomes so predictable that the excitement of waiting for your response gets removed entirely. He stops looking forward to hearing from you because the response is always already there. Live your life. Reply when you're actually free to reply — not the instant the notification pings. This isn't game-playing; it's simply having enough going on that texts don't get your immediate undivided attention every time. The occasional delay — an hour, an afternoon — creates a small mystery. It communicates that you're engaged with the rest of your world, which is exactly the version of you he was attracted to in the first place. Don't sacrifice that for the comfort of constant contact.