Pause Before Responding...

I think I consider messages by their import.
If I have a 'please get back to me on this' call, then I will call back within the day.

If it's a 'hey, hows it going..." from someone I have a more relaxed relationship with, I might take couple days, just depending on what's going on.

I don't like to leave people hanging, per se, but if they are just calling to shoot the breeze or catch up, I might need to wait until I have time for a more lengthy phone call. And sometimes, I will schedule those via email so we're both available.

As soon as it is quiet enough in my house to return the call without having to stop every 13 seconds to break up a fight.

Sometimes that is within minutes of getting a call; other times it is 3 days; and if it is my MIL, I might just delegate the task to my husband.

It can take me forever.

I am a middle-aged working Mom with 3 little kids and a stay-at-home Dad husband who "leaves" all the phone call returning, RSVP'ing, and cookie baking to me (otherwise, it doesn't happen).

My friends and family are much appreciated for their patience with me. If it's someone who wants to make plans, I do try to be timely, but I don't always pull it off. My time-window to return calls is often too late at night. I do my best.

ETA: Overall, I believe strongly in phone etiquette, but to me that also means no calling before or after a certain a time window, unless I have been told directly it's OK to call after 9 pm or before 9 am. This does indeed mean that it can take me weeks to return friendly calls from people I would LOVE to talk to.

Depends how important it is. I try to call back as quickly as I'm able, but some days that's harder than others. Sometimes I'll shoot the person a quick text message if their message to me only required a yes/no answer. If I'm somewhere where I have decent reception and I'm not super busy, I'll call them back. If not, then the call will have to wait until I'm somewhere where I can deal with a phone call.

I really think that just because people have cell phones, we shouldn't expect them to respond immediately 24/7. We all gripe about cell phone etiquette and how people are talking on their phones everywhere we go - but if we're annoyed by that, then we can't expect our friends and family to call back immediately all the time. If it's just a phone call to catch up and chat, then I think a 1 week response is fine. If it's something of an emergency, or a time-sensitive response is required, then obviously I'll respond accordingly.

As soon as I have time after I hear the message. Usually within hours unless I just can't stand talking to them (reads my mom).

Within a day or two is polite unless I've been away.

Depends on the caller and reason for the call. If it's a friend who called just to chat, if that person lets a week or 2 or 3 go by before calling me back sometimes, then I've learned to not worry about calling them back quickly. If it's a friend who is prompt her/himself, then within a day or two. If it's family, within a day bc I have a small family so we always call right back. And if it's a friend who says he/she has a quick question, please call asap, then I call asap. And this all does get moved around if I've been traveling or something like that. Overall, I feel like you do about calling back asap and used to get a bit mad when someone left me hanging but now that I call people like that back at my leisure, I dont' mind when they don't call me back quickly either.

Unless it's someone close to me, I don't return calls if they don't leave messages that include why they are calling me. That's at work, too. I don't have time or tolerance to play phone tag. If they let me know what they want, then I can either take care of it or be prepared for the call. Either way, I get to keep it moving. Even my manager doesn't leave a "Hey, call me back" message

I try to call within a couple of days.

if it's friends/family, as soon as i can. usually the only reason i don't answer is because i'm busy. so when i get a moment. that's for friends and family. if it's a bill collector, it's longer :)

I try to call that day if time allows if not the next morning