I’m Kayla, and I actually did it. I tried monk mode. Twice, in fact. The first run was 30 days in January. The second was a shorter 14-day stretch in late May, right before a big deadline.
(For a separate deep-dive on the same question, peek at this honest, hands-on review that explores the core premise from a different angle.)
Did it work? You know what? Yes. But not the way I first thought.
Let me explain. For a broader industry take, Forbes outlines how adopting a “monk mode” mindset can supercharge output in demanding roles.
What I Mean by “Monk Mode”
It’s a short season with clear rules. You cut noise. You focus on one big thing. You make it boring on purpose so the work pops.
Here were my rules for 30 days:
- Phone on Do Not Disturb till 12 p.m. and set to grayscale
- No social media, no alcohol, no sugar on weekdays
- Two deep work blocks before 10 a.m. (I used 90 minutes, then 60 minutes)
- 10 minutes of meditation
- 10,000 steps
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
I wrote these on a sticky note and taped it to my fridge. I also used the Forest app and Freedom to block stuff that eats time.
Why I Tried It
I was behind on a client site build, and my jeans felt tight. My brain felt like a busy street—horns, sirens, random pop-ups. A fellow builder hit the same wall in their 30-day test for real and swears the silence is half the win. I wanted quiet. Also, I had a small speaking gig in March. I needed clean slides and a calm voice. That’s hard to fake.
Real Results From My 30 Days
I tracked numbers, because feelings can lie. Data keeps you honest.
- Client site: finished in 19 days (my plan said 30)
- Writing: 3 long blog posts, 2 drafts, 1 landing page rewrite
- Screen time: 5h 41m down to 2h 03m (iPhone weekly report)
- Weight: down 5.2 lbs (home scale, morning)
- Sleep: 6h 10m up to 7h 18m (Apple Watch)
- Resting heart rate: 67 down to 61 bpm
- Steps: hit 10k on 26 out of 30 days
The idea that structured focus periods measurably lift performance isn’t just anecdotal; a recent World Economic Forum overview details how “monk mode” practices can move the needle on productivity metrics.
Those stats echo the shifts logged in this 30-day “what actually happened” recap.
Was I a brand-new person? No. I was just a quieter one who could start and finish. That was enough.
What It Felt Like (The Good, The Weird, The Grumpy)
- Mornings got sweet. I’d wake at 5:45, grind coffee, and the apartment was hush. That rich smell? It helped. I’d do a 90-minute block before the sun slid up over the brick buildings by my window.
- My brain stopped buzzing around day 6. It was like someone turned down the static.
- But I also got snappy. On day 8, my partner asked me about dinner plans, and I snapped, “I can’t think about that.” Not my finest moment. That edge shows up in the writer’s full monk mode take too—turns out the grump is a feature, not a bug.
- Cravings hit at 9 p.m. That’s when I wanted cookies and reels. Day 5 was the worst for that.
- The lonely part was real. I skipped two Friday hangs. FOMO stung. I told friends the truth: “I’m doing a focus sprint. I’ll be back.” Most folks got it. For anyone who feels that same pinch of isolation but doesn’t want to blow up their whole schedule, a quick, low-stakes meet-up can scratch the social itch and then let you dive right back into deep work—SextLocal connects you with nearby people looking for the same lightweight, no-pressure hang, so you get a fast dose of human contact without derailing your monk-mode rhythm.
For readers who happen to be in southern Indiana and want an even more localized option for a short, commitment-free meetup, the modern classifieds scene offers targeted boards that make lining something up as easy as sending a text. A prime example is Backpage Seymour, where you’ll find constantly updated personal listings specific to the Seymour area—perfect for grabbing a quick coffee, walk, or low-key date and still getting back in time for your next deep-work block.
Three Real Days From My Notes
I keep a simple log. Nothing cute. Just facts.
- Day 3, 7:12 a.m.: Wrote 1,042 words for a case study. No edits yet. Ate eggs and toast. Puttered with a plant between blocks. Felt good.
- Day 11, 3:05 p.m.: Hit a wall. Took a 12-minute walk without my phone. Came back and finished the hero copy. Made it simple. Client said, “Finally reads like us.”
- Day 21, 9:48 p.m.: Wanted sugar bad. Chewed gum. Brushed teeth. Took a shower. That broke the loop. Small win. Slept by 10:25.
Tiny moves, big effect. Funny how that works. I noticed the same pattern when rereading someone else’s “what I did, what broke, what stuck” journal—small course corrections pay back huge.
What Didn’t Work (And How I Fixed It)
- Too many rules made me stiff. I felt trapped by my own list. So in week 2, I gave myself a 20-minute “social snack” on Saturdays. It stopped the rebound binge on Sunday.
- The second deep work block after lunch kept sliding. I moved it to 8:15 a.m. and 9:55 a.m. back-to-back, then did admin after. That flow stuck.
- I kept ruminating at night. So I made a “parking lot” note on paper at 8:30 p.m. I’d write the stubborn thought down, then tell myself, “Future me can carry this.” Sleep came easier.
If you stretch the sprint longer, this 45-day experiment shows why rule fatigue creeps in and how to dodge it.
The 14-Day Version (May)
This round was lighter. Rules:
- One deep block before 9:30 a.m.
- No phone till 11
- Walk after lunch
- One “yes” to friends per week
Results? I finished my slides by day 9, rehearsed twice, and didn’t feel like a robot. I even ate tacos with friends on Friday. The sauce was messy and perfect.
So, shorter can work. You don’t have to go full monk to feel the lift. For the flip side, see how things morph in a 90-day marathon where momentum—not novelty—keeps you honest.
Who Should Try It (And Who Should Skip)
Try it if:
- You have one big piece of work that needs clean focus
- Your phone keeps stealing your mornings
- You want a reset on sleep and sugar
Skip or soften if:
- You’re caring for a baby or a sick parent
- Your job is all meetings and live chat
- Strict rules trigger guilt or spirals
You can still do a gentle version. One morning block. One phone rule. That still counts. One writer even did a kinder “I-tried-it-so-you-don’t-have-to” spin—read it here—and still found surprising wins.
Tips That Saved Me
- Pick start and end dates. Make it a season, not forever.
- Choose one anchor rule. Mine was “two blocks before 10.”
- Keep one social outlet. A walk with a friend helped a ton.
- Make it visible. Fridge note, whiteboard, whatever.
- Track three numbers only. I used screen time, sleep, and steps.
For a ready-made template and quick-start