Are you feeling stuck or unfulfilled in some areas of your life? It could be your job, relationships, health, or financial situation. Everybody has moments when their hearts crave change but are unsure where to start or how to make it last. The gap between where you are and where you want to be can overwhelm you.
That's where the "Disappear for Six Months" challenge, also known as monk mode, comes in. This powerful self-improvement approach focuses on dedicating six months to creating transformative changes in your habits, health, and mindset — all while prioritizing self-care and eliminating distractions. It's not just about change; it's about lasting transformation.
This article will provide actionable strategies for focusing on what truly matters, adopting life-changing habits, and building a better, more fulfilling life. Get ready to take control of your journey and create the future you've been dreaming of!
What is the challenge of "Disappear for 6 Months?"
The motivational speech "I Dare You to Disappear for 6 Months" challenges listeners to take a break from outside distractions and focus solely on themselves for six months. It's available on YouTube and as a motivational podcast, gaining popularity on social media.
So why not dive into yourself and make a 6-month plan for self-improvement today?
Month 1: Setting the foundation
Changes propel your life forward, leaving lasting impressions on your memories and heart. Whether you choose them or they happen beyond your control, they move you forward.
These days, everything changes rapidly: fashion, cinema, media, digital, marketing, self-development, and art. While people have adapted to this frantic pace, it's important not to lose yourself when identifying areas for improvement to focus on during these next six months.
Self-awareness
The path to personal development begins with self-awareness. It involves understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, passions, and aspirations. Through introspection and feedback from others, you can develop deeper self-awareness about your personality, motivations, and reactions to different situations. Remember that understanding yourself is the first step to improvement.
"Don't underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces, able to transform what might appear to be unconquerable obstacles into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities. Strengthen the individual. Start with yourself. Take care of yourself. Define who you are. Refine your personality. Choose your destination and articulate your Being. As the great nineteenth-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche so brilliantly noted, "He whose life has a why can bear almost any how." ― Jordan B. Peterson, '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos'
Free your mind
Do you want to understand what's happening in your head? Try this: take a deep breath and release your thoughts from everything around you. This approach creates space for new possibilities. Take a break.
Don't say that you can't. You should achieve your goals, but a short break in between is necessary. If you don't rest, you will gradually "burn" yourself.
You need to rest regularly. Choose a time to sit silently, observe yourself, and understand your thoughts. The most important thing is distinguishing between your genuine thoughts and those imposed from outside. And the key is simply to begin.
"The mind and body are intimately connected, and what we think and feel affects every cell in our body." - Dr. Joe Dispenza, 'Becoming Supernatural'
Write down your goals
Setting realistic goals for yourself is crucial regardless of what areas of life you strive in, be it business, sports, health, or personal development. Writing down your goals helps maintain focus and motivation on your journey.
Almost every business trainer or coach stresses the necessity of writing down your goals. So, grab a pen and paper or use digital tools to create a visual list of goals that can help you stay motivated.
Wake up earlier
"How you wake up each day and your morning routine (or lack thereof) dramatically affects your levels of success in every single area of your life. Focused, productive, successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days—which inevitably create a successful life—in the same way that unfocused, unproductive, and mediocre mornings generate unfocused, unproductive, and mediocre days, and ultimately a mediocre quality of life. By simply changing the way you wake up in the morning, you can transform any area of your life, faster than you ever thought possible." ― Hal Elrod, 'The Miracle Morning'
Does waking up early really help you become successful and happy? You might be surprised, but it's true. Here are some benefits of being an early riser:
Your productivity will increase throughout the day. In the morning, you can always set aside time to plan your day, focus on essential things, and avoid getting distracted by unnecessary things.
There will be time to develop healthy habits. These peaceful hours are perfect for exercise, meditation, outdoor walks, or reading.
Your sleep quality will improve. It may seem strange, but waking up earlier will enhance sleep quality. A regular sleep and wake-up routine stabilizes the body's natural rhythms, resulting in better sleep.
There will be less stress. Starting your day earlier gives you time to prepare for work without rushing, reducing daily stress.
Such a habit will help you change your lifestyle and move forward without waiting for something to force you to act. Creating a pleasant morning routine will help you love mornings.
Month 2: Building healthy physical and mental habits
It's no secret that modern society is constantly bombarded with information daily. Social networks consume a significant portion of most people's time, often distracting them from focusing on important tasks and priorities.
Implement a digital detox
As of 2024, Americans spend around 147 minutes daily on social media. They also check their mobile devices about 159 times daily, and US teens spend an average of 4.8 hours daily on social media platforms.
Not long ago, social media had endpoints for feeds — you'd reach the bottom of a page or see content you've already seen. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram display chronological posts, letting you catch up on friends' updates before moving to other activities. Today, with infinite scrolling, the content never ends — you see your friends' updates, content that the algorithm thinks is relevant to your interests, and a sprinkle of older posts to keep the page flowing.
Most often find themselves mindlessly scrolling through feeds, searching for something that grabs their attention. While most posts fail to captivate viewers, people keep chasing that fleeting surge of dopamine. For example, TikTok functions similarly to a slot machine. Each swipe is like pulling the handle, hoping to win the prize of an engaging video.
"Less mental clutter means more mental resources available for deep thinking." – Cal Newport, 'Deep Work'
Newsfeeds and social media act like digital drugs. It is worth trying to give them up for several reasons, at least for a while. Their addictive nature makes it difficult to concentrate, creating constant information noise. There's simply too much to process; most serve entertainment rather than enrichment. While avoiding social networks might seem challenging today, taking a break is worthwhile. After all, how can you radically change your life without pushing beyond your comfort zone?
Exercise regularly and eat right
Again, this is necessary to have enough energy for change. Regular moderate exercise alongside proper nutrition are essential components of a healthy lifestyle. When you start eating right, you will reach a certain energy level, allowing you to look at your life differently. There are known cases where people who reduced their consumption of junk food through a proper diet began to feel better and become more aware of their purpose. Hydrate yourself every single day for better brain function and overall health. So, changing your daily habits can lead to a clearer understanding of how to improve your life.
"Typically, people who exercise, start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change." ― Charles Duhigg, 'The Power of Habit'
Choose activities you enjoy and a convenient time for training, making your health a regular priority. Following a consistent exercise schedule is an achievement in itself. When blood flows freely, oxygen circulates optimally, and your body feels flexible, your confidence naturally grows. Find what moves you: cycling, swimming, sports games, fitness, running, interval walking, dancing, tennis, horseback riding — anything that brings you joy in motion.
Month 3: Personal presentation and confidence
Self-confidence is essential for a person and an important component of psychological well-being. A healthy level of confidence helps people succeed personally and professionally. Confident people are more productive and stress-resistant. True confidence manifests through a positive, realistic assessment of your abilities to achieve meaningful goals.
Your inner world is a place of endless possibilities, where great ideas and the most ambitious goals are born. Imagine yourself as you want to be, and follow your dreams.
Take care of your hygiene and maintain a neat appearance. Doing this is both pleasing to the eye and readily apparent to others.
Healthy self-confidence is vital for your good emotional state. It is easy to achieve it with the help of fashionable looks. Good clothes increase your efficiency and enhance the impression of others about you. Moreover, depending on your dress, other people always form a visual impression of you. You can easily influence their first impression of you by selecting attire that flatters your strengths and fits your body type.
Clothing and self-confidence are inextricably linked. Your clothes should bring joy and satisfaction: this can be achieved if you like your reflection in the mirror. Determine which styles fit you better than others, for example:
A sheath dress is best if you want to emphasize the curves of your figure
A trapeze dress if you need to hide flaws and lengthen your legs
High-waisted trousers are suitable if you are short or have an athletic figure
Choose colors that complement your complexion
And voilà, the first step is taken: you like your image and automatically feel more confident.
Choose comfort and beauty
If possible, avoid clothes that make you uncomfortable or cause unpleasant sensations. For example, if the popular corsets dig into your body with their design, high-waisted jeans squeeze your hips, and palazzo pants get your heels tangled, put these things aside. Uncomfortable clothes negatively affect your charisma; others can sense your discomfort through subtle signs of stress, irritation, and tension.
Month 4: Strengthening relationships and building community
Relationships with loved ones can bring immense joy but also present challenges and stress. Learning how to develop and maintain healthy relationships, resolve conflicts, and express empathy is essential.
"Working briefly on your marriage every day will do more for your health and longevity than working out at a health club." ― John Gottman and Nan Silver, 'The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work'
Communication is the foundation of any healthy relationship with family, friends, or partners. Strong relationships rely on understanding the basics of effective communication, such as showing empathy, listening actively, and seeking understanding.
Quality time matters more than quantity. Meaningful interactions strengthen emotional bonds, create shared memories, and build deep, supportive relationships. When loved ones spend quality time together, they naturally understand each other's needs better and support each other during difficult times, which helps build a more harmonious relationship.
Ideas for shared activities with family and friends
Joint hobbies: Do something that everyone enjoys — sports, crafts, cooking, or movie nights. A shared hobby helps you find more common ground and opens up new opportunities for conversation and support.
Family nights: Establish a tradition of regular family nights. These could involve dinners, board games, movies, or simply discussing your day.
Travel or nature trips: Even short trips outdoors or picnics can add new experiences and enrich shared memories.
Outdoor activities: Taking walks, bike rides, or hikes together helps improve physical health and creates opportunities for emotional conversations.
Collaborative projects: Working on home improvements or participating in charity work builds unity and adds a sense of common purpose.
Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones is one of life's most rewarding aspects. Strong, positive connections with family, friends, and partners improve your mental well-being and contribute to your overall psychological and physical health.
Respect personal boundaries
Healthy relationships require a balance between unity and individuality. Setting and respecting boundaries can help maintain this balance without feeling oppressed or repressed. Remember, boundaries are not barriers but a guarantee of personal space and autonomy.
Month 5: Financial growth and diversified income
"We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like." ― Dave Ramsey, 'The Total Money Makeover'
Financial literacy is a set of approaches, rules, and practices for managing money effectively. These skills help you become more prosperous, achieve your goals, and maintain your standard of living throughout life.
Start by understanding and tracking all financial flows and sources. You can do this in Google spreadsheets or with the help of various applications and services. It is also important to regularly analyze expenses and look for savings opportunities.
"Saving money isn't about depriving yourself. It's about deciding you love Future You as much as you love Today You." ― Chelsea Fagan, 'The Financial Diet'
Make a budget for the next few months or a year, and plan significant expenses. Let's take, for example, a category of costs such as vacation expenses. It is worth understanding how much money you will allocate for a vacation. There can be several approaches to savings: 1) set aside a certain small amount of money, dividing the payments monthly for a year; 2) save up money for several months, setting aside larger amounts, and then use them when you have the opportunity to go on vacation; 3) collect money a few months before the planned vacation.
Diversify both income and savings. The greater the diversification, the lower the risks. Take, for example, work. If you work in one industry, especially a narrow one, it is worth remembering that a crisis in this industry can leave you without a job and, accordingly, without income. Therefore, it is best to start looking for additional earnings or mastering another specialty.
Analyze your income
It is crucial to assess whether your current job's salary suits your needs and whether you can develop there, improve your qualifications, and increase your income accordingly. If the situation works for you, move on to the next stage. If not, consider these options: look for a new position that offers better compensation for your working hours. The position and specialty may differ, but many companies will pay more for your existing skills and abilities.
Analyze how much time you spend on work and how many free hours, except for sleep, remain. If you are ready to spend these few additional hours on work, then you can look for part-time offers, freelance projects, or building a side hustle.
Month 6: Lifelong learning and mentorship
Lifelong learning is about constant self-improvement, personal development, and working on yourself. It is about mastering new skills and knowledge and improving your skills. Permanent learning is an antidote to burnout because even a favorite activity becomes undesirable if not developed.
Develop skills
The next step is to acquire new skills or improve existing ones that match your goals. This process may include registering for online courses, reading books, attending training sessions or seminars, and seeking advice from mentors or coaches. Remember that developing skills is not a one-time action but an ongoing process. As you progress, you may need to master new skills or improve existing ones to meet new challenges or opportunities. For example, you could learn to cook tasty food or make catchy presentations in Figma or Keynote.
How to read self-help books
Think of self-help books as medicine — they are bought for prevention or recovery. If you're content with your life, seeking changes just for the sake of it might disturb your natural balance.
The "good" news is that everyone has problems. To obtain a helpful guide, you must clearly identify and articulate your challenges. It is the essential first step in any personal transformation. Self-help books provide systems of rules and practical approaches. Think of them as workbooks with exercises woven throughout their pages. To get the most value, you need to summarize or use the summaries on the Headway app to help take notes and highlight key insights along the way.
What you see in self-development books must be put into practice. Let's take 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear as an example. It's about the power of tiny changes and proves that you don't need to reinvent yourself to succeed. Change small habits, make the process clear and simple, reinforce everything with positivity, and just like that — a different person will appear in the mirror. The system described in 'Atomic Habits' is convincing enough to withstand months or even years of testing.
Meditations
"By changing our energy, we have the power to heal our body, manifest our dreams, and create a life beyond our wildest imagination." – Dr. Joe Dispenza, 'Becoming Supernatural'
Psychological practices are essential for mental health. It is vital to take care of your emotional state. Meditation helps you become more harmonious, teaches you to focus on the present, and improves self-awareness and concentration. Self-reflection enables you to understand yourself, revealing what needs to be changed. This process promotes growth.
Sustaining the transformation with the Headway app
Are you excited to dig into this six-month plan? With the Headway app, you can gain more advice on different aspects of life, such as developing relationships with people, developing professional skills, or learning how to support your mental and emotional health.
Below is a list of books, the summaries of which are in the Headway library:
'The Miracle Morning' by Hal Elrod
'12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' by Jordan Peterson
'Becoming Supernatural' by Dr. Joe Dispenza
'Deep Work' by Cal Newport
'The Financial Diet' by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage
'The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work' by John M. Gottman, PhD, Nan Silver
'The Total Money Makeover' by Dave Ramsey
Headway is a convenient tool for microlearning and self-improvement. Most attractively, it saves you time. In just 15 minutes, you can get the most valuable thoughts and ideas from the world's most famous self-help books. Turn your spare moments into opportunities for growth starting today!
