Quick note: I kept this simple and real. I wanted focus, fewer pings, and less fluff. Did it work? Yes. And also, not always. Let me explain.
Still curious? I kept a running journal of the entire experiment that you can read in this day-by-day log.
The Plan at a Glance (Outline)
- Why I tried monk mode
- My exact schedule and rules
- Tools I used
- What worked great
- What was hard
- Real results with numbers
- Tips if you want to try it
- Final verdict: who this fits
Why I Even Tried This
I hit a messy stretch in late September. Too many tabs. Too many snacks. My brain felt like 37 open Chrome windows. I write for work, and I needed clear chunks of time. No pings. No scroll holes.
A friend said, “Go monk mode. Go quiet and go deep.” I laughed. Then I did it.
Research backs the idea—going “monk mode” can measurably boost productivity, according to the World Economic Forum.
My Exact Monk Mode Schedule
I ran this for 21 days. Weekdays were strict. Weekends were softer. I still saw people, but less.
Weekdays:
- 5:40 am — Wake, water, light stretch
- 6:00–7:30 — Deep work block 1 (writing first draft)
- 7:30–8:15 — Walk outside, no phone
- 8:15–9:00 — Breakfast and quick cleanup
- 9:00–11:30 — Deep work block 2 (research, edits)
- 11:30–12:00 — Admin (email, invoices)
- 12:00–12:30 — Lunch
- 12:30–1:00 — Nap or eyes closed
- 1:00–2:30 — Deep work block 3 (calls only Tue/Thu)
- 2:30–3:00 — Snack and stretch
- 3:00–4:00 — Light tasks (file, plan, review)
- 5:15 — Gym or home workout
- 7:00 — Dinner
- 8:00 — Read on Kindle, foam roll
- 9:30 — Shower and bed prep
- 10:00 — Lights out
Weekends:
- Mornings for chores and a 90-minute shop-and-cook block
- One social thing on Saturday night
- Sunday reset: plan week in Notion, wash sheets, charge gear
Is this strict? Yep. But I slept better by week two. That shocked me.
For a longer 30-day variant—with a few extra bumps and breakthroughs—check out this full recap.
The Rules I Lived By
- Phone in a kitchen drawer from 6:00 am to noon
- No social media till 5 pm (Forest app timer running)
- No meetings before 1 pm
- 3 coffee max, last one by 1:30 pm
- No news before lunch
- Headphones on = “no talk” sign, even at home
- One “messy day” per week where I could break rules
I’ll admit it. I broke the rules on day 4. I ate chips at 10 am and scrolled. Then I put the phone back. That small restart felt big.
Another hidden landmine was those “just curious” location-based browsing sites—think local-flavor adult map directories like MilfMaps—because two clicks can turn into twenty and zap an entire focus block; still, if you genuinely want a fast, map-style way to see who’s nearby, the site delivers that in seconds. Likewise, a classifieds-style hub tailored to one city—such as the Mission Viejo listings on One Night Affair—puts a curated feed of local ads at your fingertips, which can be valuable when you truly need up-to-date information but is equally lethal for deep-work momentum.
Tools That Helped Me Focus
- Forest app for timers
- Freedom to block sites from 6 am–11:30 am
- Notion for planning and weekly review
- Google Calendar for time blocks
- Kindle Paperwhite at night
- Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones for noise
- Aeropress for a quick coffee ritual (tiny joy)
- A cheap kitchen timer for the short breaks
I didn’t buy fancy stuff. The timer did most of the heavy lifting. If you want a plug-and-play tracker to keep the same rules, the free planner at Monkify lays everything out in one clean dashboard.
What Worked Great
- Deep mornings: My brain was crisp at 6:30 am. Words came fast.
- Walk breaks: Short walks kept me steady. Sun on face helped mood.
- Fewer choices: When to write? It was on the calendar. I just sat down.
- No pings: Freedom and the drawer trick cut out “I’ll just check…” moments.
- Meal prep: Pre-cut veggies saved me from snack chaos.
What Stung a Little
- Social squeeze: I said no a lot. That got old by week two.
- Rigid vibe: If I slipped, I felt guilty. That’s not helpful.
- Afternoon dip: I wanted sugar at 2 pm. A lot.
- Boredom: Focus is not fireworks. It felt plain some days.
- Family texts: People got mad when I didn’t reply till noon. I had to warn them first.
You know what? I loved the quiet. I also missed goofy group chats. Both can be true.
Real Results (Numbers Help)
- Writing output: 33,200 words in 21 days (avg ~1,580/day)
- Inbox: Twice hit inbox zero by noon (rare for me)
- Sleep: Up from 6 hr 20 min to about 7 hr 10 min, per Apple Watch
- Gym: Deadlift went from 165 lbs to 185 lbs (small win)
- Screen time: Down 31% weekday mornings
- Mood: Fewer “frazzled” notes in my journal, more “steady” and “clear”
Not magic. But solid.
If you want to compare these numbers with another 30-day run (rules, slip-ups, and all), skim this candid breakdown.
Small Tangent: Food, Seasons, and Vibes
I started as fall hit. Cooler mornings made walks easy. Soup Sundays felt cozy. I cooked a big pot of turkey chili and roasted veggies. It sounds small, but warm food kept me from candy runs at 3 pm.
What I’d Change Next Time
- Build a gentle on-ramp: Start with two early days, not five
- Add one social lunch midweek
- Shorten block 3 to 60 minutes if I’m dragging
- Keep the Sunday reset no matter what
Quick Tips If You Try It
- Tell your people: “I’m offline till noon. Call if urgent.”
- Make a simple menu: Breakfast, lunch, snack. Repeat all week.
- Set one daily target: A page count, a deck, a chapter, a dataset cleaned
- Use a timer: 50 minutes on, 10 off, three rounds
- Pick a shutdown cue: Close laptop, write tomorrow’s first task on a sticky, lights low
- Keep one cheat valve: Saturday night is free
For more practical pointers, Forbes also breaks down how to go into monk mode without burning out.
The Verdict: Who Is This For?
- Yes: Writers, coders, students, anyone with big work that needs quiet chunks
- Maybe: Parents with tight mornings—try a shorter version
- No thanks: Jobs with constant calls, or folks who gain energy from chatter
I’ll run monk mode again for two weeks in January, not three. Why? It works, but it’s heavy. I need seasons—quiet sprints and then light weeks. Like breathing.
If you want clean focus for a while, this schedule helps. It’s plain, kind, and firm. And it leaves room for a life, if you let it.