How I Monk #20 - Matt's Story

January 22, 2025 Monk Manual

This is the twentieth in our series of emails called “How I Monk.” In this series, we will be highlighting + celebrating members of the Monk Manual community as they’ve meaningfully applied our tools and resources to find peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives. If you’d like to be featured in a future “How I Monk,” share your information with us here… #HowIMonk

Name: Matt Costa

Occupation: High School teacher, football & golf coach

Location: Sacramento, CA

A bit about who you are and how you spend your days:

Looking for a planner that I could not only keep my time organized, but some place that I could journal and write my thoughts all in one format. Monk Manual provided that for me. The daily gratitude section and insight is usually how I start and end my day. The weekly wrap up I actually do on Monday morning to start my week. I reflect on both my work and personal life. The self reflection has been huge in helping me keep a work/life balance.

What originally drew you to the Monk Manual?

There is a lot of talk about work/life balance, but what has helped me the most is seeking out alignment over balance. I have found when work and life are aligned on the same mission, you feel more at peace (balanced) even though there may not be an actual balance of work and life. When monk manual talks about building a system for being and doing, I saw it as a system for aligning work and life — and using the 90 Day planner and Life Atlas have been extremely helpful in guiding my goal setting, planning, and reflection.

Do you have a favorite prompt or section?

The Reflect section has been huge for me. Being able to look at my Habit Insights, reminding myself of my accomplishments for that week, and remembering meaningful and positive moments has been very reflective in changing my mindset to being more positive. Covering what God has been trying to teach me throughout the week has been huge. Most importantly, the Relationship Growth section has been very helpful in my personal relationship with my soon to be wife.

Practical Monk Manual Tip:

In the notes section I keep track of the next week’s to-do list throughout the week so I am not forgetting anything. I, also, keep track of calls and emails.

When you were first getting started, what part of the Monk Manual did you struggle with most?

I would say reminding myself to do my insights at the end of the day, and finding the best way to work in the “Looking Back” section. It was easiest for me to break it up by doing the looking back on Mondays.

How has your life changed since using the Monk Manual?

My Monk Manual has allowed me to not only stay organized, but help to set my schedule, free up time for my home life, reflect on my routines, spiritual growth, and relationship growth. I have been able to reflect and keep my eye on all the things that are important to help make a more full, joyful, and centered existence.

What suggestions would you give to new Monk Manual users?

Focus on the looking back section. That to me is vital for personal growth.

If you’d like to be featured in a future “How I Monk,” share your information with us here.