Automatically initiating and answering communications are described herein. A communications device may be configured to automatically initiate outgoing communications to a default destination or to perform some action automatically upon receiving an incoming communication. Entries in a data structure accessible by the communications device can specify different delay periods applicable to each entry, such that communications to or from these entries are handled according to these delay periods. Outgoing communications can be initiated automatically to one of the entries, triggered in response to a user action. The user can override the outgoing communication by acting affirmatively within the delay period specified for the entry to which the communication is being initiated. The communications device can also be configured to automatically answer incoming communications in a variety of ways. The user can act affirmatively within an applicable delay period to override a default answering mode for incoming communications.