Try TikTok’s “Monk Mode” to Start Developing Better Habits
There’s talk on TikTok right now about going into “monk mode,” but if you watch enough videos on the topic, you’ll realize that it means different things to different people. However, at its core, the idea of doing work in a distraction-free, timeless environment. In fact, even “monk mode” as a separate concept has been around since the early 2000s and has seen periodic surges in popularity on Google over the years. Here’s how to make it work for you.
Determine What Your “Monk Mode” Is
When you’re in monk mode, you get closer to what monks do, or at least part of it. Imagine a monk. What is he doing? Whatever it is, it’s probably calm and focused. I imagine a monk in civilian clothes, sitting at a table in an undecorated room, reading a religious text, completely immersed in the task at hand. I had friends in high school who went on to become monks, and I know that’s a simplistic idea of what they do, but this “mode” relies on the basic stereotype of a calm, focused person going about their business, and that’s what we’re working with.
Essentially, going into monk mode means devoting yourself to deep work, or work focused solely on one task, without attempting to multitask and without any distractions such as social media. Deep work is a concept I’ve discussed here before, so how is monk mode different? Well, first of all, it has a catchier name and it’s a good fit for TikTok’s viral economy, but second of all, it won’t be the same if you make it different. Some writers say “monk mode” simply means working deeply, using it to identify moments in the day when they turn off notifications, buckle down, and focus on one task at a time. Others, however, take it to a whole other level by dedicating weeks or months , which may include, but are not limited to, constantly limiting access to social media, stopping drinking and smoking weed, avoiding adult content, meditating or reading a certain amount of time each day, or avoiding socializing with people.
Obviously, there is a significant difference between a blocked period of uninterrupted work on a specific task and a 60- or 90-day quest to rid your entire life of all distractions. There is a middle ground here: you can commit to doing the same block of work time every day for a certain number of days. In fact, this is what many people said they did in the pre-TikTok era. If you want to develop a habit or achieve a goal (you want to go to the gym more regularly or start a business), set aside a certain amount of time each day, set a goal to work on it without distraction during that time each day, and do it for 90 days. It’s a monastic approach that doesn’t require giving up half the activities in your life—and it provides a solid starting point for this entire endeavor.
Things to Remember About Monk Mode
The more you watch these videos, the more they start to veer into manosphere territory, where TikToks feature jaded guys who claim they can tell you how to “get out of the matrix.” It’s a messy business and you shouldn’t be upset if you can’t turn off social media, see your friends or have your morning coffee just to appease a stranger who will effectively lose their livelihood if you stop using social media and probably bet your farm on the assumption that you don’t.
Resetting your goals and starting to work on them consistently and deeply is good, but do it in a way that is sustainable for you and actually meaningful. Going into monk mode can actually be as simple as committing to waking up an hour earlier each day and using that bonus hour to work, undistracted, on your passion project before the emails start coming in from 9 to 5. If you feel like giving up weed, clubbing, or any other behavior or habit that you feel is holding you back, go for it, but take the time to think about what your challenges or barriers are before cutting anything out of yours. life on the advice of some guy on TikTok. Personally, when I do my own version of what we now call monk mode, I focus not on the “bad” things I can get rid of, but rather on the “good” things I can add, and then structure my three-month plan around the goal of doing those good things wholeheartedly and regularly.
As I said, I knew some of the monks. If there’s one thing I know about them, it’s that they’re not unhappy and don’t actively try to punish themselves. They focus on their responsibilities because it is the right thing to do and leads to greater self-fulfillment. Try starting there. Oh, and turn on Do Not Disturb mode on your phone.