Look, I would consider myself a very driven and ambitious guy.
I definitely fall into the Type-A, go-getter archetype.
I love working hard on a project I deem meaningful… I’m very much into “productivity maxxing” and squeezing every single ounce of high-value work out of my day.
It also means that it’s very hard for me to “switch off” and stop thinking about work. For example: It’s 10x harder for me to take a (well-deserved) break instead of pushing myself that tad bit harder.
It’s a blessing and a curse.
But it might come as a little bit of a surprise for me to call monk mode – a practice literally OPTIMISED for productivity – a SCAM.
But that’s exactly what I’m doing.
See, I’ve had my fair share of “monk modes.”
Last winter is the first that comes to mind. And I’ll admit that it was a very formative time for me… But it was also one of the worst times of my life.
I was assiduously “grinding” for literally 12 hours every day, 7 days a week. Optimizing EVERY nanosecond of my day for business success: my workout routine, my sleep schedule, my social life. I was madly obsessed.
I don’t regret it.
And I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be ambitious or obsessed.
But there’s nuance to this – as always in life.
Because while there’s nothing wrong with “locking in” and optimizing your life for success… I find it pretty thickheaded if…
See, I hated my life back then.
Monk mode gave me – a heavy introvert – an excuse to stay at home and avoid escaping my comfort zone. And it gave me a false sense of pride.
I took pride in my loneliness.
“This is my lonely chapter. I need to suffer ahhhh! GIMME THE PAAAAIN!”
Crazy.
The worst part?
Because I felt like a steaming hot pile of garbage… I didn’t feel motivated or inspired to work and build epic shit. (Which caused even more guilt and shame).
Nowadays, I’ve come to my senses.
I don’t think monk mode works for me. I make the most progress – and historically have made the most progress – when I’m balancing all aspects of my life.
It’s when I’m at my best.
Especially if you have a creative profession – like copywriting – you’re at a huge disadvantage if you feel like shit all day.
Because the first thing to be thrown out the window when you feel bad?
Your creativity.
And mind you, I’m not saying you should become a hedonic philanderer who runs around chasing tail and popping bottles of champagne all day – I’m advocating for common sense here.
You hate your life? You’ll be less productive.
That simple.
Now, this is probably not the best piece of advice for everyone.
I still think most people (~70%) are lazy f*ckers who could use a little kick in the arse. For THEM… monk mode would probably be the best thing they could do.
But, if you’re reading this, I’m going to assume you’re somewhat like me.
For us… we could massively benefit from taking a foot off the gas and focusing more on enjoyment.
Because let’s face it: we won’t just stop working. It’s quite literally impossible for us to give up. I’d rather chug down 15 liters of horse piss mixed with rotten milk than quit this journey of entrepreneurship.
So, consistency and work ethic are not the bottleneck to a fulfilling life for us.
It’s our ability to enjoy the journey.
And personally, I can’t enjoy any journey if I’m locked in my basement for 12+ hours every day.
I guess the lesson here is this:
(We’re all unique after all.)
I’ve tried monk mode. So far, it’s always made me miserable and unproductive. So I won’t be doing it again.
However, if YOU say that monk mode is the greatest thing since sliced bread… I respect that. You do what works for you. Don’t let anyone dictate how you live your life. It’s far too valuable for that.
I just felt like sharing my experience would be helpful to someone.
Alright, I’ll leave it at that.
If you enjoyed this email, if it was insightful, or if you disagree with me… reply and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Talk soon,
Tim <3
P.S. I understand that “locking yourself in your basement” is not what monk mode really means. But it’s the way I understood it back then. And maybe some of you think the same way. This email should serve as a cautionary warning.
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