In my last post, I wrote about seizing this mandated seclusion as an opportunity to get some things done. I’m committed to taking my own advice.
For the last couple of months I’ve been feeling led to “go into the lab.” The lab is where things happen – a place that doesn’t get penetrated by outside influences. It’s a place designed for focus, creativity and innovation. I’m not sure who originated the term, but I’m familiar with it because I’m a hip hop fan (90s and 2000s hip hop, since I can’t even understand what these new hip hoppers are even saying) and I went to college on the East Coast. I heard the term a good bit in my late teens and early 20s.
“The Lab” – The lab is any place where you can go to focus, practice your skills and get work done. Go to the lab when you need to straighten something out.
I’m feeling the need to really buckle down, focus and make significant progress on some things that I need to get done. And I’m feeling like I need to take some extraordinary action in order to get the extraordinary results I’d like to get. Sometimes, that’s necessary – big action for big results.
When I was studying for the bar exam, I was laser focused. In the initial months of my studying I went to work, worked out, cooked, went to church and studied. That was about it. I didn’t go to social events. I didn’t shop (other than for food). In the final 2 weeks of before my exam, all I did was study and exercise. Nothing else mattered to me at that time. I had to pass this exam! I was willing to cut out anything unnecessary in order to do that. I didn’t want to go through the process of studying for months again. So I ate, breathed, and slept the bar exam materials. And I passed.
My bar exam success was based on 3 months of focused time and effort. I’ve learned first-hand what that level of focus can produce. There’s tremendous value in focus – in deciding upon a particular thing and working toward it.
I wish everyone well, but you need to focus on yourself. You need to stop putting your hand out. Everyone wants handouts. Everyone wants things for free. You’ve got to put in the work. You’ve got to grind. You’ve got to go through the struggle, and you’ve got to get it.
~ Conor McGregor
I’ve learned that guys call an extreme version of this isolation and focus “Monk Mode.” I say that it’s an “extreme version” because Monk Mode includes the cessation of indulgences in sex, porn, masterbation, alcohol and some other things in which a true monk wouldn’t engage. I don’t know if I’m committed to giving up aaaaallllllll of that at this time. I’ll marinate on it.
A tip that I’ve come across in learning more about Monk Mode is that it is critical that one have very clear, hopefully quantitative, goals for one’s focused isolation time. In other words, like other goals or processes that involve sacrifice, the “why” must be very clear and motivating.
I’m feeling the need to really buckle down, focus and make significant progress on some things that I need to get done. And I’m feeling like I need to take some extraordinary action in order to get the extraordinary results I’d like to get.
~ single girl
While I’m still in the process of figuring out what my cocoon will look like and what the exact, defined goals would be, I do have some ideas. For example, during this time period, I won’t be going on dates that I don’t really, really want to go on (compare this to being “fine” with going out with that person and seeing what they are like). This will mean that my focus will be on activities that make me and my business better and limiting or diminishing non-productive activities. I’ll be very conscious and conscientious about what I’m consuming (from food and liquids to written and video media). My communication with others will be more controlled and regimented (i.e., I won’t allow for as many random conversations throughout the day). These are just some ideas.
I was feeling this way before the whole coronavirus self-quarantines and social distancing that we’re doing now. Considering what is going on, I’m thinking that now might be a good time for me to get started with this or to, at least, start preparing to do it.