What to say when she needs to date other people longer

The phrase "need to date other people longer" is about her readiness. She is saying the decision to commit has not caught up with how she feels, and she would rather wait than say yes to something she is unsure about. That reads as caution, and it usually isn't a rejection of you specifically. Read the rest of the message too. If she says she likes spending time with you, or she is clear she is not ending things, the signal is that she wants the relationship and wants a slower version of it. If the message is cold or vague, or she frames it as a reason to stop talking, you are closer to a no. Look at what she offered alongside the boundary, because that tells you more than the boundary itself.

Your reply has to take her answer seriously. Say back what you heard in plain terms, confirm you are fine with her taking the time she needs, and say what you want from the connection in a way that does not require her to decide anything today. Stating your own position matters, because it stops you from sliding into a vague limbo where you wait without saying anything. Say that you like seeing where things go and that you would rather know where she stands than guess. Then stop. Don't add a list of reasons, don't ask her to rank you against the other people she is seeing, and don't invite a debate about whether her timing is fair. Be clear about what you want and generous about what she needs, and let those two sit side by side.

Reply within the same day or the next morning. A long gap after a message like this reads as either hurt or indifference, and neither helps. Send the reply at a normal time, not late at night when it can look like you are reacting to the news. After that, don't follow up until there is a reason to, which usually means she starts a conversation or you have something specific to share. If the next week passes with no contact at all, send one short message that keeps things light and warm and makes clear you are still interested. If she answers with the same distance, take that as her answer and stop sending messages. Two unanswered follow-ups in a row is the point where continuing becomes pressure, and pressure is the thing she just asked you not to do.