At the inaugural KT+150 Summit in Dubai, a gathering of young innovators and entrepreneurs highlighted an unconventional strategy for combating digital distraction: scheduled digital abstinence. Stephan Muller, GCC Director of wearable tech company Whoop, revealed his daily practice of completely deleting social media applications from his phone for two dedicated 90-minute blocks, totaling four hours each day.
“It sounds kind of stupid, but I delete social media for four hours just because otherwise I’ll grab my phone and just unconsciously check,” Muller explained during a panel discussion on entrepreneurial balance. His approach involves creating an environment of pure focus: “I just have my laptop in front of me, all the programmes closed, and just that presentation or whatever I need to work on. It just allows you to be very present.”
The summit, held at the Helipad by Frozen Cherry near Dubai Festival City, brought together boundary-pushers and changemakers for a day of discussions that extended to networking opportunities and an afterparty featuring the Rolling Stone MENA music festival.
Panelist Tatum Greig echoed Muller’s concerns about digital distractions, identifying social media as a “silent time stealer” that she has actively removed from her life. Greig now prioritizes reading, exercise, breathwork, and meditation. She emphasized the cognitive cost of task-switching, noting that “it takes 15 minutes on average to be able to go from one to the other,” resulting in significant productivity loss throughout the day.
Restaurateur Tarek Roumie expanded the definition of productivity beyond professional achievements, advocating for its application in personal life. “I measure productivity and success by the ability to have family time,” Roumie stated. “In the same way I ask as a business, about do I make money, in the family I ask have I given my parents, my partner and my sister enough time.”
All panelists stressed the importance of establishing systems to prevent burnout. Roumie drew a parallel to physical endurance: “If you ask someone to wake up at 3am and run every day until they can’t run any more, they will burn out. It is the same with productivity.”
Greig offered additional advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the psychological preparation needed for the entrepreneurial journey: “Learn how to be by yourself for at least five months before starting your company. You will spend much of your time by yourself while you’re starting it up.” She also highlighted the importance of building a support network of individuals who have undergone similar experiences.