6 Comments

Good one, Dylan. One cannot smell the roses while galloping on a horse!

This myth of monk mode seems like another variation of the hustle culture. While this might seem appealing and might work for people in their twenties, it comes across as a short-term approach. This does not seem to be a sustainable way of leading life.

Community is essential for a balanced life.

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Thanks Yash! You're absolutely right, Monk Mode is hustle culture taken to its logical conclusion - no contact with the outside world, no breaks, just gains. It's unsustainable for anyone, but especially people who want success outside of the professional world.

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This is one of my top 3 favorite articles ive come across on Substack. While I wasn't aware of "monk mode" I have definitely found myself obsessing over "optimization" aka bingeing Tim Ferriss podcasts. Life is meant to be messy, we make mistakes, our metrics go up and down.

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Wow, that's a huge compliment - there's a ton of great writers on here, thank you!

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I love this and it loudly echos my own thoughts. Young men can feel so lonely and isolated, leavening them vulnerable and open to manipulation. This is loneliness on gear!! A dream for those who wish to indoctrinate them into the worst kinds of ideologies. Welcome them into the world in the hope they can better it. Don’t isolate them from it so they can better themselves. Learning how to function outside of the world is far less helpful then in it and it’s focus is largely on the world being the problem, not the reality. Lovely writing and thank you

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Thank you for your kind words, Sol! You’re absolutely right—loneliness plays a significant role, especially for young men. What makes it even more challenging is that loneliness often perpetuates itself. The more isolated someone feels, the more they may turn to the online world, which can deepen that isolation even further.

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