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Pavel Durov productivity tips: In an age where tech leaders boast about working around the clock,  has taken a radically different approach. The billionaire entrepreneur believes that the true key to productivity lies not in relentless hustle, but in adequate sleep and strict phone discipline.

Speaking on The Lex Fridman Podcast, Durov shared that he dedicates nearly half his day, 11 to 12 hours, to rest and reflection. “I try to allocate as much time as possible for sleep,” he said. “Even if I don’t sleep for all those hours, I spend that time thinking, and that’s when my best ideas often come.”

According to Durov, those quiet, undisturbed hours, lying awake in bed, often bring moments of clarity and creativity. “I love these moments. I get so many brilliant ideas, or at least they seem brilliant to me, while I’m lying in bed late at night or early in the morning,” he added.

Avoiding Early-Morning Phone Use

Durov, who built two of the world’s most popular digital platforms, VKontakte and Telegram, also follows an unusual morning routine. Unlike most people, he avoids reaching for his smartphone immediately after waking up.

“I want to define what is important in my life,” Durov said. “I don’t want other people, companies, or algorithms deciding what I should be thinking about as soon as I open my eyes.” He believes that checking social media or notifications early in the morning disrupts mental clarity and reduces independent thought. “If you open your phone first thing in the morning, you become a creature told what to think about for the rest of the day,” he explained.

‘Technology Should Serve Humans, Not Control Them’: Durov

Durov admitted that his philosophy might seem counterintuitive for someone who founded one of the largest messaging platforms in the world. However, he insists that technology must remain a tool, not a master.

“I know it’s ironic,” Durov said. “I built one of the biggest social networks and then one of the biggest messaging apps. But I still believe that constant connectivity kills focus. The more accessible you are, the less productive you become.” Lex Fridman, who spent two weeks with the Telegram CEO, confirmed that Durov rarely used social media or checked notifications during that time.

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Privacy, Balance, And Control

Aside from productivity, Durov is also recognised for holding strong opinions regarding privacy. A few months back, he publicly declared that he would "rather die" than give away Telegram users' personal messages to any third party. His opinion is an expression of his overarching belief in digital autonomy and individual control.

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Durov's strict life is a far cry from the "hustle culture" that many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs tend to romanticize. To him, success is a matter of focus, sleep, and independence, not perpetual activity. "The world rewards those who know when to disconnect," Durov explained, emphasising that the best creativity derives from times of quiet, not ceaseless online chatter.