Monk Mode is a period of time where you can increase your own quality. This is achieved by sacrificing junk activities and filling up your schedule with self-improving habits. This is when you fine-tune your focus, calibrate your direction, and confront yourself.
The results of Monk Mode should be:
- a better sense of direction for life
- growth in your specific goals
- increased self confidence
Junk activities have no long term benefits. They're just for instant gratification. They may be necessary to relax after long periods of hard work, but too much leads to a life of regret and failure. Some example "junk activities" to sacrifice:
- going out for coffee
- sitting idly on the couch
- video games
- Netflix marathons
- viewing Instagram/Facebook
- browsing Reddit
- social outings
- time spent on hangovers
Even after Monk Mode, you'll want to minimize these distractions. Don't rob yourself of growth opportunities. After Monk Mode, always remember to retain your newly formed good habits.
The core of Monk Mode is: introspection, isolation, and improvement.
Evaluate yourself by:
- identifying your weaknesses
- acknowledge and accept them
- plan on how to address them -- either by fixing or minimizing
Determine what kind of person you want to be and how to get there. This is where you can calibrate your direction in life and lay out the initial steps. It's important to be honest with yourself -- be specific to your own goals and not other people's expectations.
Solitude is ideal for achieving high growth. Social obligations will overwhelm you during Monk Mode. Social politics will also influence your goals, making them less genuine to yourself. Without social obligations and outside opinion, you're free to forge yourself exactly how you see fit.
You can still seek aid in your goals though. For example a personal trainer for physical goals or trusted advisors for business goals. But nobody else should dictate what your goals are -- such as your parents.
Isolation from social and junk activities also gives you the benefit of filling your schedule with more effective and efficient, self-improving activities.
See Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to determine your priorities.
Example self-improvement activities include:
- lifting, jogging, or a sport
- cleaning your home
- learn a language
- learn from non-fiction books
- study hard
- learn a martial art
- learn a musical instrument
- learn to be funny
- learn to cook
- learn to code
- work on your side projects
- learn self-discipline by establishing good habits
Get your foundation in order: physical health, mental health, hygiene, and finances. Invest in yourself by learning new skills or improving existing ones. Your schedule should be completely packed with self-improvement activities and habits.