It’s great to have friends, roommates, or even family around, except for when you’re not in the mood. And if you, like the writer are an ambivert, socializing is a lot trickier than in any of the polarities.
It’s easier to ghost the people you don’t vibe with online than offline. But sometimes, it’s smoother to talk to familiar people via text than a call. And if you too felt that, this list’s for you.
(if you couldn’t relate to that, this is for the time you feel it)

๐ด Mobile Phone OFF Emoji
Switching off your cellphone is the easiest way of telling someone that you need something breathing space, but not very politely.
To ease that rudeness, you could use ๐ด to say the same.
- Um, dude. I’m having a real bad headache. I’ll see you in a bit, going offline ๐ด
- Can’t talk. Give me some time ๐ด
See? Was it so hard?
Now, imagine this scene.
- Actually. Hmm. HEH. I’m done texting for today. ๐ด How about tomorrow? Same time? 5 to 5:15 PM?

๐ณ Vibration Mode Emoji
This one’s for the peeps you need a break from, not a break-up. The ones you can tolerate to a great extent, and the ones you don’t wish to lose so easily.
- Honey. Taking some time for myself. I’ll be available if you need me ๐ณ
- My phone’s not going to be on loud and neither is it going to be with me ๐ณSo, it’s not on me if I don’t answer.

๐คซ Shushing Face Emoji
Have you ever wished to piss someone off so bad? Not hurtfully, but because you have an itch for it?
Or do you sometimes do it so much on purpose that it becomes some sort of a personality change when you text those people?
๐คซ is for those times.
- Omg. ๐คซ Going to sleep!
- Jerry. ๐คซ I don’t need to hear what I already know
- What’s that? Opinions? Byeeee ๐คซ

โ No Entry Emoji
If you’ve ever wanted to tell someone to stay away and didn’t really have a polite phrase for it, โ is your answer.
โis the perfect emoji for all the times you do not wish to be disturbed. And as a matter of fact, โ is quite versatile!
Text messages, social media statuses, stories, anything could use โ and mean only one thing.
Not now, not today.

๐ด Sleeping Face Emoji
Compromising sleep is always a choice.
Read that again.
No one could ever force you to screw with your precious eight hours unless you want to. And what more could be the perfect DND sign if not for ๐ด?
- Gonna be out for a while? ๐ด (now, it’s no one’s business to know, doing what, right?)
- Please. Let’s leave work for work hours ๐ด
๐ด also has a couple of variants – ๐ Person in Bed, ๐ค Zzz, and ๐ฅฑ Yawning emoji. It’s important to note that ๐ฅฑ ought to be applied cautiously (could go really bad if wrongly used).
- Gonna get some me time ๐ฅฑ (yikes! you just called the other person boring! that’s why you gotta be cautious).

๐ค Face With Thermometer Emoji
Calling in sick is the best way to avoid socializing.
But you’re just being dishonest about things.
Not everyone’s going to get what you’re saying, Susan. It’s easier to be dishonest than to explain the truth to those who won’t get it.
It’s easy to say that you’re sick than explain why. Spare the why for the ones who care. ๐ค is for the ones who’d doubt the reason.
- Don’t think I can make it ๐ค
Um. But it’s a group video call ๐คจ
Exactly my point. I cannot make it ๐ค๐คจ

๐ถโ๐ซ Face in Clouds Emoji
Apart from being whimsical in one’s ideas and thoughts, ๐ถโ๐ซ could even suggest a sense of hiding (if not into one’s own fogged headspace, from the world at least).
So, if you’re not feeling it today, you could use ๐ถโ๐ซ to convey the same.
- Yay! The weekend! What a wonderful time ๐ถโ๐ซ
- Oh great. Another family gathering? How exciting ๐ถโ๐ซ

๐ฎ Video Game Emoji
If you’re a gamer, this is your DND symbol.
You can have such individualized ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs for yourself. It’s alright if the “newbies” won’t get it. It’ll reach those who need it and can read it.
For instance, if you’re someone who goes for a swim to reconnect with yourself, ๐โโ๏ธ Swimming or a ๐ฉฑ Swimsuit could be your DND symbol. And if it’s yoga or meditation, you could use the ๐ง Lotus Position.
- Not sure how long. ๐ฎ But I’ll deffo let you know.
- DND ๐ฎ

๐ Muted Speaker Emoji
Nope. No interactions, discussions, or even small talk, please is the essence of ๐, which makes it a great DND symbol.
With symbols like ๐ and a ๐ Bell With Slash, it doesn’t matter if the message is thought to be ambiguous. There’s only one plausible interpretation, no humans, please.
Everyone needs a time-out. We all need undisturbed and uninterrupted time for ourselves and our priorities. Asking for that time out is not a crime, not a sin, and definitely should not be an offense.
In fact, chances are that the more you allow people the freedom to get some “me time”, the more you’re a favorite. And we hope this list puts into perspective the various symbols that could come to the rescue when you’re just not in the mood for people.