What Was I Thinking?
I always believed I was productive. I had built a solid routine, worked efficiently, and managed my time well or so I thought. But deep down, I knew there was another level, a level that only a select few reach, and I wanted to experience what it was like to push beyond my limits.
Then I asked myself: What if I worked like Elon Musk?
The man is a legend of productivity, a relentless workhorse who has built Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and multiple other companies while maintaining an 80 to 100-hour workweek.
He’s known for his insane efficiency, brutal time management, and extreme focus. He doesn’t waste time on small talk, rarely takes breaks, and operates at a level that seems almost superhuman.
So, I decided to put myself to the ultimate test. For 30 days, I would follow Elon Musk’s infamously grueling work schedule to see if I could:
- Unlock insane levels of productivity.
- Eliminate every distraction.
- Achieve more in a month than I had in a year.
But I had no idea what I was about to put myself through.
What started as an experiment in efficiency quickly turned into a brutal battle of mind and body. I faced exhaustion, stress, and mental fog like never before. And yet, I also unlocked insights into work, focus, and human endurance that changed how I view success forever.
This is my real, unfiltered experience, what worked, what failed, and why most people should never attempt this.
Week 1: The Shock to My System
Musk’s Work Schedule: The Blueprint
Before I jumped in, I needed to understand exactly how Musk operates. His work philosophy isn’t just about working long hours—it’s about radical efficiency.
Here’s what his routine looks like:
- He works in 5-minute time blocks, every second is accounted for.
- He wakes up at 5 AM and sleeps at 1 AM, getting only 4 to 6 hours of sleep.
- He avoids pointless meetings, if something isn’t productive, he leaves.
- He eats meals in under 5 minutes (if he eats at all).
- He dedicates 80% of his time to engineering, not management.
This wasn’t just about working more, it was about compressing time, eliminating waste, and achieving laser-sharp focus.
Day 1: Immediate Reality Check
I was fired up. I set my alarm for 5 AM sharp and forced myself out of bed despite every fiber of my body begging for more sleep. There was no morning scrolling, no easing into the day—I jumped straight into work, just as Musk would.
For the first few hours, I felt unstoppable. There was something thrilling about operating with military precision, cutting out every distraction, and diving headfirst into deep work. By midday, I had already accomplished what would normally take me an entire day.
But by 6 PM, the fatigue started creeping in.
By 10 PM, I felt like my brain was short-circuiting.
By midnight, I was on the verge of collapse.
I had barely made it through one day and my body was already screaming for mercy.
I realized something brutal: Musk doesn’t just work hard, he operates at a level that most humans aren’t built for.
Day 3: My Brain Started Melting
By the third day, the cracks started to show.
- I was constantly exhausted, no matter how much caffeine I drank.
- I felt mentally foggy from the lack of sleep and intense workload.
- I skipped meals without realizing it because I was so focused on work.
- My social life disappeared overnight, no texts, no casual conversations, just work.
By the end of the third day, I was seriously questioning if I could last an entire month.
But something inside me refused to quit.
Week 2: Breaking Through the Pain Barrier
Then, something strange happened.
Around Day 7, my brain began to adapt. The constant exhaustion remained, but my body stopped resisting.
It was almost as if my mind had accepted that this was my new normal and it had no choice but to keep up.
What Changed?
- I learned to work in hyper-focused sprints. Instead of aimlessly grinding, I worked in bursts of extreme concentration.
- I eliminated 90% of distractions. I stopped checking emails every 10 minutes and only responded to messages at set times.
- I optimized decision-making. If something could be decided in under 30 seconds, I made the decision and moved on, no overthinking, no delays.
- I stopped wasting time on unimportant tasks. Every minute was spent on high-impact work.
My productivity doubled, But so did my stress levels.
By Day 10, I lost track of time. The days blurred together in a relentless cycle of work, eat (sometimes), and collapse into bed. I wasn’t just being productive, I was becoming a machine.
Week 3: The Dark Side of Extreme Productivity
But by the third week, reality hit me like a brick wall. This work schedule is dangerous.
My Health Started Falling Apart
- I lost weight—without trying. Not because I was exercising, but because I was barely eating.
- I was constantly anxious. Even when I wasn’t working, my brain was still wired for work.
- I had persistent headaches. My sleep deprivation was catching up with me.
The Emotional Toll Was Even Worse
- My relationships suffered—I had no time for friends or family.
- I stopped thinking about anything except work.
- I felt like my mind was stuck in permanent overdrive.
The scariest part?
I was getting used to it. It was as if my emotions had been shut off. My mind had stopped caring about anything except output, efficiency, and results.
This was the dark side of extreme productivity, a place where success comes at the cost of everything else.
Week 4: The Musk Mindset Shift
By the final week, I had crossed a threshold. I wasn’t tired anymore, not because I had recovered, but because my body had given up fighting.
I understood why Musk can sustain this lifestyle:
- He doesn’t see work as work, it’s his life’s purpose.
- He doesn’t strive for balance, he chases results, no matter the cost.
- He has built a tolerance for stress and exhaustion that most people can’t handle.
But should everyone work like this?
Absolutely not.
The Brutal Truth: What I Learned
The Good
- I accomplished 3x more in a month than ever before.
- I eliminated every distraction from my workflow.
- I learned the power of deep, focused work.
The Bad
- I sacrificed my health and social life.
- I lived in a constant state of exhaustion.
- I realized this level of work is unsustainable for most people.
Should You Work Like Elon Musk?
If you’re deeply obsessed with building something world-changing, adopting an extreme work ethic like Elon Musk’s can be effective. The intense focus, long hours, and relentless drive can push you to achieve extraordinary results. However, this level of commitment comes at a cost that not everyone is willing or able to pay.
On the other hand, if you value a balanced and healthy lifestyle, this approach may not be for you. Working non-stop with minimal rest can lead to burnout, strained relationships, and even long-term health issues. While discipline and hard work are essential for success, sustainability matters just as much.
I pushed myself through 30 days in “Musk Mode”—and while I survived, I wouldn’t do it again. The experience was eye-opening, but the sacrifices were too steep. Would you ever try working like Elon Musk for a month? Drop your thoughts below!
