Set the timer to 99 seconds

How to use the online timer

You have started the countdown again because the person you were speaking with is still checking something. For the next ninety-nine seconds, resist watching the numbers change: reread their last message, note the one detail you still need, or look away from the screen. The pause then feels like part of the conversation rather than a delay demanding constant attention.

While they check with a colleague, reception desk, or building security, keep your phone close enough to notice the signal. Conversation, air conditioning, traffic outside, and a busy Dubai office can easily cover a quiet alert. Raising the volume slightly or placing the phone on a hard surface may make its vibration easier to notice without interrupting everyone nearby.

During the second wait, give yourself one small task that ends naturally: draft a single reply, clear one notification, or write down the next question. Avoid opening a long article or scrolling through several chats, since the other person may return before you settle into them. If nothing needs doing, trace a slow glance around the room and identify three useful details; it occupies the pause without making you miss their return.