“The challenge with digital culture is that it’s so addictive. Apps, websites and media channels have all been designed to draw us in and keep us hooked. Georgina Sturmer, a counsellor who specialises in online addiction and compulsive behaviours, says that the Monk Mode phenomenon is a direct response to living out our lives online.
Is it a response to our ‘always on’ culture? An act of rebellion for digital natives? Although it’s ironic, in that case, that it’s come to the fore through social media and that a number of apps, including one called Monk Mode, are now claiming to help support those who want a digital detox. It’s interesting to think about why the term has become so popular now. I’m not missing the post-lunch slump after introducing more protein into my diet either.
And the local farm shop has been doing very well out of my “eat more real food” pledge. Not grazing on crisps or cheese while bingeing the latest Netflix series has been challenging at times but giving up alcohol hasn’t been nearly as painful as I’d imagined, partly because I’ve replaced it with some delicious booze-free alternatives. And so it turns out that I’ve been living in Monk Mode without realising it. My monkish habits started after I went on a metabolic health retreat last month and learned more about the importance of eating unprocessed food, following the 16:8 diet (fasting for 16 hours, eating for eight) and incorporating more movement into my day. And while Monk Mode is proving to be particularly popular with buff 20-something blokes, described by one TikToker, as “ a state of extreme focus and discipline”, it turns out that it’s particularly appealing to middle-aged mothers like me.
I am not, I hasten to add, normally prone to following TikTok trends. It also involves being specific about your goals – do you want to improve your health, concentration or productivity. Some of the most popular “hacks” include turning your phone off or limiting social media use, introducing meditation to your day and giving up booze. In brief, it’s a productivity and health trend where people commit to a set period of time – 30 days, 90 days and so on – to introduce ‘monkish’ habits into their day-to-day life. The #monkmode hashtag, which first came to light in 2022, has really gathered momentum in recent months and has, to date, had almost 79 million views on TikTok, up from 31 million in May 2023.
Scrolling through TikTok to find out more about the latest trend going viral, Monk Mode, I realise I’m already living it. Sleeping for seven hours a night and avoiding alcohol – double tick. Turning the phone off to minimise distractions – tick.
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