How To Use Monk Mode To Get 2x More Work Done

Maybe you’ve heard of my “Monk Mode” before.

In a nutshell, Monk Mode is basically when you go super hard on your work without ANY distractions for days at a time.

That means no social media, no TV, no video games, and no socializing.

It also means no smoking weed, no drinking, or anything else that will mess with your output of work.

There was a time where I would go full Monk Mode for days, sometimes even weeks at a time. And I made 7 figures using it that way.

But even with someone like me who lives and breathes hard work and dedication, this model just isn’t sustainable.

Burnout is a real thing, and working too hard for too long will have opposite results.

That’s where my Mini Monk Mode comes into play.

Mini Monk Mode is more accessible and sustainable for everyone. It involves strategically entering Monk Mode during your most creative and focused hours of the day and balancing it out with fun or leisurely activities.

Here’s how to do it properly and get 2x as more work done without burning out.

Why You Should Avoid Full Monk Mode

Full Monk Mode, AKA “grinding”, is just not smart.

Some people just have it in their blood I guess, but I’d say 99% of people need to still take breaks and let their brains wander every now and then.

Otherwise you’ll totally lose your mind from being overworked. Then you enter a depressive slump, or paralysis by analysis.

There was even a study at the University of California on workplace productivity where they found that intense work without adequate rest lead to decreased productivity.

Even worse, extreme self-discipline in one area can actually lead to a significant decrease in self-control in other areas, a phenomenon known as "ego depletion."

What you need is to find a balance that actually doubles your output without sacrificing other areas of your life.

How To Use Mini Monk Mode

Mini Monk Mode is a practical and sustainable alternative to the traditional Monk Mode.

It’s a perfect blend of intense personal development and everyday life.

This approach is designed around the concept of integrating short, focused bursts of self-improvement within a regular daily routine.

The core idea is to allocate dedicated time slots for deep work and personal growth, without the need for complete social isolation or drastic lifestyle changes.

This method is inspired by effective time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which advocates for short, focused work sessions interspersed with breaks, enhancing productivity and mental agility.

Mini Monk Mode will also work wonders for your mental health.

You’re not only getting more work done and reducing your stress levels as a result, but by maintaining a healthy work-life balance in general you’re nurturing your overall mental well-being.

I’ve found that the golden hour for my Mini Monk mode is in the morning when I feel most creative and fresh.

I wake up, scoot over to my desk, and just keep my head down for an hour for some deep, uninterrupted work.

Your Monk Mode might be at night if that’s when you feel more relaxed, away from the distractions of the day. Me personally I just like to get things done earlier.

Here are a few things you can do to make your Mini Monk Mode the most productive:

1. Delete your most used social app like Facebook or Tiktok for at least 1 hour or the duration of your Mini Monk Mode.

2. Set timers so you don’t worry about keeping track of time or missing a Monk Mode period.

3. Plan ahead and make sure you don’t have any obligations, meetings, or plans with friends that will break up your Monk Mode.

4. Throw on a YouTube video that blocks out distracting noises, such as a brown noise/green noise video, chill music, or nature sounds.

I recommend 1-hour periods for Mini Monk Mode, and usually about 3 or 4 per day. Make sure to take a 5-10 minute rest activity like walking or stretching between each Mini Monk set.

The BMM Takeaway

With Mini Monk Mode, you’re essentially still getting the benefits of full monk mode but you’re using these “mini breaks” to do a quick battery recharge between each set.

There’s a theory called the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory that basically says we as humans become stressed when our resources are depleted without time to replenish them.

Resources, in this case, would be cognitive resources. Mental energy. Have you ever worked on something for so long that you literally can’t think anymore?

Even if you were working in a comfortable position, not exerting yourself…you can almost feel your brain is tired, right?

Well, cognitive energy is a real thing. Your brain is literally using energy to work and process things, and it’s finite.

And when the demands consistently outweigh the resources available, and there is insufficient recovery or replenishment, it leads to a state of burnout.

So make sure you take these mini breaks to replenish your cognitive energy between your sets of Mini Monk Mode.