WeWork's Adam Neumann says switching off for 25 hours every week for Shabbat helped him be better

SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 22:14WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann said observing Shabbat had helped him understand himself better and strengthen his relationships, and persuaded host Steven Bartlett to try a day without screens during an interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast released Monday.Asked about the most effective practice he had adopted to get to know himself better, Neumann pointed to the Jewish day of rest.“About 10 years ago, I started keeping Shabbat, which, for those who don’t know, means that on Friday, we disconnect from technology for 25 hours,” he said. “And I just spend my time with my family, my friends, and taking part in something greater than myself.”Shabbat begins before sunset on Friday and ends after nightfall on Saturday. Traditionally observant Jews refrain from work and the use of electronic devices during that period.“That disconnection actually makes a lot more connection than anybody understands,” Neumann said.A day without a phoneNeumann urged listeners to try spending 24 hours away from their phones, saying the first few hours could reveal how deeply ingrained the habit of checking them had become.“The first two hours, the number of times your hand’s going to go to your pocket, thinking your phone is there, will show you how addicted you are, because it’s an actual addiction,” he said.He suggested planning the time in advance, including dinner with friends and activities outdoors. By the end of the day, he said, the experience could leave people feeling better and thinking more clearly about their priorities.“Some of the best ideas you’ve had in some time are going to come to you, including who you should be surrounded with, what business you should focus on, what is your next move.”Bartlett agrees to try itNeumann then pressed Bartlett to put the advice into practice. The host acknowledged that his fiancée had repeatedly asked him to disconnect and admitted that the prospect made him uncomfortable.Bartlett eventually agreed to try a day without screens and report back. As they discussed the terms, Neumann clarified that the challenge focused on technology and allowed activities such as driving and brainstorming on paper.“I'm not asking you to keep Shabbat,” he told Bartlett.Earlier in the interview, Neumann credited his wife, Rebekah, with introducing him to spiritual practice shortly after they began dating. He said she had challenged his focus on material success and encouraged him to seek fulfillment. For him, that exploration began with Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition.The discussion formed part of a wider interview about Neumann’s career, his experience at WeWork and his subsequent residential real estate venture, Flow. Describing his weekly time with his wife and six children, he said:“That 24 hours where it’s us together has been phenomenal,” he said.Follow us on Google