Monk Mode: How To Master Deep Work For Peak Productivity

Monks and successful business professionals don’t appear to have much in common. But when you consider how both successfully focus on their respective tasks with undivided attention, it’s easier to start drawing parallels.

This is the basis of monk mode — a concept you may have seen doing the rounds on TikTok recently. But monk mode is far from a trend; productivity experts have been using it for 20+ years as a strategy to regain focus, prevent burnout, and maintain mental balance.

This article explores monk mode in more depth, including some practical ways to gain control of your productivity. No celibacy or prayer required.

TL;DR—Key Takeaways

• Monk mode involves a period of intense focus and discipline when you go into isolation and complete a specific goal.
• Three I’s form the foundation of monk mode: introspection, isolation, and improvement.
• There are many benefits to using monk mode: more productivity, increased work quality, achieving long-term goals, forming better habits, better mental clarity, and more.
• To increase productivity with monk mode, try setting clear goals, establishing a routine, focusing on one task at a time, eliminating distractions, and more.
• There are many tools for deep work and monk mode, including time tracking tools, distraction blockers, project management apps, note-taking tools, and others.

What is monk mode?

Monk mode is activated when you commit to a period of intense focus and discipline. During this time, you’ll isolate yourself from various distractions to achieve a specific goal.

Put simply, monk mode is about applying the self-discipline and dedication of a monk to modern life — a hack that anyone in the working world can use to regain control of their productivity.

The foundations of this methodology are the three I’s: 🧘 introspection, 🚪isolation, and 📈 improvement.

Introspection

The first step of monk mode is to assess your existing work habits and find out where you need to improve. For example:

• How much time do you spend working productively?
• How often are you distracted? (e.g., social media, doom scrolling, social interactions in the office, playing video games, listening to a podcast, etc.)
• At what time of the day are you most productive (e.g., 10 AM or 7 PM)?
• When do you find yourself multitasking, and why?
• Which tasks don’t you complete due to procrastination, distractions, or other reasons?

You can create a diary and write down some of these items, but it’s even easier if the answers to these questions are automated. For example, you could use a time management tool such as Toggl Track to gain a breakdown of your daily activities.

This allows you to see your productivity patterns and divide your day into distinct chunks of time spent on each activity. You’ll see when you’re productive and when you’re just wasting away your time at work.

Isolation

In the first step, you’ve ideally found out what’s preventing you from completing your to-do list and smashing your goals. Isolation strips these distractions from your work environment so you’re physically and mentally free to focus. Here are some great starting points:

• Digital detox: Turn off social media or limit access to your most commonly used networks. Turn off notifications on frequently used apps such as Slack.
• Set phone rules: Determine when and how long you use your phone, e.g., only for phone calls or work-related tasks.
• Create a distraction-free work environment: Isolate yourself from coworkers, and stay away from other laptops, TVs, or anything that can produce noise and distractions.
• Set boundaries and expectations: Explain to your coworkers (or people you live with) that you’re practicing monk mode and won’t be available for help or socialization.

With all these in place, you’ll create a better work-life balance and be more present in and outside your workspace.

Improvement

Monk mode is about more than achieving more in less time. It’s about finding ways to improve your habits and free yourself from missed deadlines, poor-quality work, and career stagnation.

For example, you may notice that you’re most productive in the evenings, and spending time on LinkedIn is your biggest time blocker. Use these insights to block access to this network and structure your day so you’re most active at peak productivity hours.

Benefits of dipping into monk mode

Monk mode gained popularity after the 2020 launch of Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty and, most recently, a series of viral TikTok posts on self-improvement and productivity. Wherever you learned about monk mode, it offers several benefits to anyone who commits to this practice:

• Increased productivity: You’ll do more work in a smaller time frame.
• Higher quality of work: You can deliver a better end product without distractions.
• Achievement of long-term goals: With a stronger focus on short-term goals, your long-term goals will be closer too.
• Improved mental clarity: Instead of multitasking, you can focus on a single task.
• Habit formation: Even without going into monk mode, you’ll form a habit of tuning out distractions and doing deep work.
• Increased creativity: Without notifications, social media, or interactions with coworkers, your creativity can soar.
• Building a healthier relationship with technology: Instead of letting social media apps dictate your dopamine intake, you’ll control how you interact with tech.
• A sense of accomplishment: You’ll handle smaller tasks more efficiently, giving you a sense of completing some work.
• Resilience and mental toughness: You’ll feel more in control of your workload and be able to tackle more significant challenges at work.

The downside of monk mode

Having said all of that, monk mode isn’t for everyone. There are certain downsides to consider, too.

• Monk mode can be very lonely. Increased periods of isolation may suit you if you’re an introvert, but can do more harm than good over the long term.
• Monk mode doesn’t suit some professions. For example, someone in a customer-facing role can’t stop talking to customers or receiving notifications from essential work apps.
• Monk mode may lead to burnout. An increased focus on work without setting aside time to decompress can lead to burnout.
• Monk mode moves away from collaboration. You’ll mostly rely on self-help and completing solo tasks, which can limit collaboration and teamwork.

Tips for increasing productivity with monk mode

Want to go full monk mode but don’t know how to start? Here are some practical tips.

• Set clear, specific goals. Example: You might commit to finishing a landing page design within two work days. Break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable ones with milestones.
• Establish a routine. Set aside focus periods during the day, but remember to leave time for breaks and self-care.
• Practice deep work by focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking. Techniques such as Pomodoro can support this.
• Eliminate distractions. Find a way to deal with issues like noisy phone notifications, a TV in your living room, a chatty coworker, or easy access to snacks.
• Limit social interactions. Explain to people that you’re in deep focus mode, and they shouldn’t interrupt you.
• Optimize mental and physical energy. Take short breaks whenever possible to refuel and avoid burnout.
• Minimize decision fatigue. Slide into monk mode more easily by automating small task decision-making. Choose your meals or clothes for the week ahead to have fewer things to worry about.
• Use productivity tools. Toggl Track provides granular insights into how you spend your time, so you can identify your most productive hours. Similarly, project management tools such as Trello will help you stay on top of your tasks. If you persuade your employees to track time, too, the entire company wins.
• Know when to end monk mode. Heightened focus isn’t sustainable long-term. Keep this hack as a tool for specific projects or deadlines rather than an ongoing lifestyle. If you notice you’re not socializing with others or lack meaningful connections, prioritize balancing work, rest, and socializing for the best long-term results.

Tools for deep work

Getting into monk mode is easier with the right tools for the job. Here are some of our top choices:

Time tracking tools

Learn how you spend your day by measuring the time it takes to complete a task or which apps drain your focus during the day. These employee time tracking apps integrate with other tools, such as project management software, to accurately determine task duration.

👉 Examples: Toggl Track

Distraction blockers

Are you prone to refreshing your LinkedIn feed or hopping onto Facebook Marketplace throughout the day? Distraction blockers will prevent you from browsing certain websites or types of content holding you back.

Typically, you’ll install blockers on your web browser so they don’t allow problematic web pages to load.

👉 Examples: Freedom, ColdTurkey, StayFocusd

Task and project management tools

If you need visibility into what you need to do at work and how it fits into the team’s bigger picture, task and project management tools will keep you aligned on who does what and when. ‘

Upload your tasks, descriptions, deadlines, contributors, tags, and more, then track your progress. Integrate these tools with others on your list for the best effects.

👉 Examples: Trello, Asana, Monday

Note-taking and journaling tools

Taking notes can help you stay accountable and complete your workload more easily. These tools have real-time sync and a variety of integrations to make your scribbles more fun and engaging.

👉 Examples: Evernote, Day One, Roam Research

Mindfulness and meditation tools

You no longer have to attend a yoga class to feel more in sync with your inner self. Manage stress, meditate, focus, and practice mindfulness with the perfect blend of mental focus tools.

👉 Examples: Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer

Ambient sound and music apps

If listening to the radio distracts you, or silence is too much pressure, ambient sound is a great middle ground. These apps play music or noise to work in the background and maintain focus instead of distracting you.

👉 Examples: Brain.fm, Noisli, Coffitivity

Physical health and well-being apps

Breaking up long work hours with some activity is good for body and mind. Even without a gym, these apps can help you get a workout and feel better.

👉 Examples: 7 Minute Workout, Waterminder, Stretchly

Get into monk mode with Toggl Track

Toggl Track holds a mirror up to how you spend your time. Here are the features that’ll skyrocket your productivity in monk mode:

• Pomodoro timer allows you to work in short bursts and achieve progress on your tasks
• Distraction-free focus mode for time tracking your most important tasks
• Time tracking goals to place your priorities front and center every day or week
• Detailed reports and integrations with your favorite apps to analyze where you spend every minute of your day at work. 

Stop procrastinating and embrace deep work with Toggl Track. Sign up for a free account and start tracking your time today.