Jay Shetty Reveals His Monk-Inspired Hack for Digital Discipline

Welcome to the first edition of Conversations with Simon, where we explore some of the most valuable insights from Simon Sinek's podcast, A Bit of Optimism. This week, Simon chats with Jay Shetty—a former monk who transformed into a global bestselling author, the award-winning host of On Purpose, and Chief Purpose Officer at Calm.

Jay's journey is anything but conventional—after graduating with honors from business school, he spent three years living as a monk in India, trading suits for robes, waking at 4am for meditation, and embracing a minimalist lifestyle. Now, with over 50 million followers across social media, he's dedicated his life to making ancient wisdom accessible and practical for modern lives.

Their conversation ranged from monastery life to modern distractions, but one insight stood out that might transform how we approach our daily lives. Keep reading for more, and feel free to view their conversation in full below or listen here.

"Location has energy and time has memory."

This simple observation from Jay's time in the monastery might be exactly what we need in our hyper-connected, constantly distracted world.

As Jay told Simon, "When you do something at the same time every day, your mind keeps a memory of it. When you do something in the same place every day, that space has an energy."

Think about your own environment. If you're like most of us, you eat where you're meant to sleep, sleep where you're meant to work, and work where you're meant to eat. The result? Confusion—not just in your schedule, but in your mind's ability to focus.?

The Accidental Blending of Everything

Jay observed a challenge most of us face without realizing it: "The energy of our kitchen doesn't allow us to digest, the energy of our bed doesn't allow us to rest, the energy of our workspace doesn't allow us to feel alert."

We've created environments where nothing has its proper place—and our minds are struggling to keep up.

This isn't about elaborate home remodeling or fancy office setups. It's about intention. Even in small spaces, we can create powerful associations that transform our ability to focus, rest, and connect.

Creating Space-Memory Connections That Work

Jay shared how he applies this principle in his own life:

"I have my phone, which is kept on my vanity table... I only look at my phone when I'm standing there. I don't let myself sit with my phone, because I know as soon as I sit with my phone, that two-minute checking can go forever."

It's a beautifully simple hack: by creating a designated space for potentially distracting activities, he limits their ability to consume his time and attention.

Similarly, he places open books throughout his home to make reading the path of least resistance:

"I have an open book next to my bed which is a book I like to fall asleep to. I have an open book in my living room... We've taken out TVs of every room apart from one space where me and my wife will watch TV."

Making This Work in Real Life

Even if you live in a small apartment or share space with others, you can apply this principle:

1. Create corners with purpose Even within a single room, designate different corners for different activities. Your "meditation corner" might simply be a cushion by the window. Your "deep work corner" might be a specific chair at your table.
2. Use sensory cues "Sight, scent, and sound can construct an energy," Jay pointed out. A particular candle scent for when work is done. A specific playlist that signals creative time. These become powerful triggers for your brain.
3. Establish standing vs. sitting rules Like Jay's phone station where he must stand, create simple rules that limit how comfortable you can get with distraction. Maybe social media checking happens only while standing, or email only at your desk—never in bed.
4. Remove options Jay keeps TVs out of all rooms except one. What can you remove from spaces where it doesn't belong? Perhaps your laptop stays out of the bedroom, or your phone doesn't join you at the dinner table.

The Deeper Truth

What makes this insight so powerful is its recognition of our humanity. We're not robots who can context-switch perfectly between activities. Our environments speak to us, guiding our behavior in ways we barely notice.

By deliberately shaping these environments, we're not just organizing our physical space—we're organizing our mental space.

As Simon and Jay discussed, we all need these "tricks" to navigate modern life while maintaining our focus and presence. The ancient wisdom of intentional spaces meets our modern need for boundaries in a constantly connected world.

So take a moment today to look around you. Which spaces in your life have clear purpose, and which have become a jumble of competing intentions? The answer might reveal more about your daily experience than you realize.

For more insights from Simon's conversation with Jay Shetty, listen to the full episode of A Bit of Optimism wherever you get your podcasts.