Jun 18, 2025
Tobias Sanchez Garcia

Start a monk session when arriving at a specific place

Location-based automations can help you establish focused routines by automatically starting Monk sessions when you arrive at specific places like your office, library, or gym. Here's how to set it up:

Enable location services

Make sure location services are enabled for both the Shortcuts app and Monk. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and verify that both apps have permission to access your location.

Create a location-based automation

Open the Shortcuts app and tap on the Automation tab at the bottom. Tap the + button and select 'Create Personal Automation'. Choose 'Arrive' as the trigger, then select a location. You can search for a specific address or point of interest, or drop a pin on the map.

Set up the Monk action

After setting the location, tap 'Add Action' and search for 'Monk'. Select 'Start Monk Mode' and choose which app group you want to block. Customize the session length and other settings as desired. Important: Toggle OFF 'Ask Before Running' to make the automation truly automatic.

Create location-specific profiles

For maximum effectiveness, create different Monk profiles for different locations. For example, at the office you might block social media and games, while at the gym you might block email and work apps. Set up separate automations for each location-specific profile.

Updated June 18, 2025