Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may configure one or more user equipments (UEs) with one or more timers, such that the UEs may switch directions for a communication mode for the duration of a timer and during a discontinuous cycle. The UEs may activate the timers and may perform the switching operation during the active duration of a discontinuous cycle. A UE may transmit a sidelink message during a transmission on duration (TX-On). The UE may activate a timer and switch to a receive mode. Similarly, the second UE may receive the sidelink message during a reception on duration (RX-On) and may activate the timer. The second UE may switch to a TX-On mode for an on duration of a TX-On cycle to transmit a sidelink response.