Templates
The Monk Mode week
Monk mode is a stretch of weeks with the distractions stripped out: four hours of deep work every day from 08:00, the gym six mornings at 06:00, a 30-minute walk without your phone at 13:00, and an hour of reading every night.
Mon
- Gym06:00–07:00
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
Tue
- Gym06:00–07:00
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
Wed
- Gym06:00–07:00
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
Thu
- Gym06:00–07:00
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
Fri
- Gym06:00–07:00
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
Sat
- Gym06:00–07:00
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
Sun
- Deep work08:00–12:00
- Walk without phone13:00–13:30
- Read21:00–22:00
The week, day by day
- Monday: 06:00 Gym (1 h), 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
- Tuesday: 06:00 Gym (1 h), 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
- Wednesday: 06:00 Gym (1 h), 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
- Thursday: 06:00 Gym (1 h), 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
- Friday: 06:00 Gym (1 h), 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
- Saturday: 06:00 Gym (1 h), 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
- Sunday: 08:00 Deep work (4 h), 13:00 Walk without phone (30 min), 21:00 Read (1 h)
Why it works
- Four hours a day is close to the limit of real deep work for most people.
- The walk without a phone resets attention halfway through the day.
- Reading instead of scrolling ends the day calm.
Rules people add
- No social media until the deep work block is done.
- No alcohol for the duration.
- Lights out by 23:00.
Use it
Open the week builder, paste the line below and adjust the times to your life:
Questions
How long should monk mode last?
Common lengths are 30, 60 or 90 days. Shorter stints with a clear goal (a launch, an exam) work best.
Use this week in Cutline
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