Most people think of a bender as two or three days of partying and bad decisions.
I have my own version. It’s not about whiskey and regret—it’s about focus and getting sh*t done.
The Origin of the Work Bender
I didn’t invent this. A client introduced me to his concept of The Work Bender. Once a month, he retreats to his second home, locks himself away, and just works. No distractions, no obligations—just deep, focused output.
Most people would consider this miserable. He considers it a luxury.
My Take on the Work Bender
I’ve adopted this approach, and here’s why it works for me:
It’s nearly impossible to find four uninterrupted hours during a typical workday. Yet many projects reach a stage where four or more hours of distraction-free effort can move the project to the next phase. Late at night, there are no emails, no notifications—just pure peace.
When the situation calls for it, I schedule my Work Bender. I set a clear goal for what I want to accomplish, and I get to work. By locking in from 7 or 8 pm until 1 or 2 am, tasks that might typically take multiple "business days" get completed in one focused push.
Sure, I might feel sleep-deprived the next day or wake up late and have my routine disrupted. But nothing beats the satisfaction of getting something off my plate.
“Stress primarily comes from not taking action over something that you can have some control over.” - Jeff Bezos
My Work Benders often emerge from the creep-in of stress—when the to-do list becomes overwhelming and the peripheral noise too loud. When I feel this coming on, I schedule my work bender.
When I finally call it a night (usually bleary-eyed from hours of screen time), I sleep deeply. My mind is clear, and my capacity for other tasks greatly expanded.
Beyond Completion
Do I always finish the project? Not always.
But even when I don’t, at the end of the work bender, I can make an informed decision about what to do next.
Maybe I map out next steps.
Maybe I pivot in a better direction.
Maybe I abandon the idea altogether.
As Bezos says:
“I find as soon as I identify it and make the first phone call or send off the first email message, the mere fact that we're addressing it dramatically reduces any stress that might come from it. Stress comes from ignoring things that you shouldn't be ignoring.”
Reclaiming Control
The Work Bender isn’t about burning out—it’s about reclaiming control and creating space for real, uninterrupted progress.
Next time you feel that low-level anxiety creeping in—the nagging sense you’re avoiding something important—take action. If the situation calls for it, schedule a Work Bender. If you’re lucky enough to love what you do, this will be your guilty pleasure.
Lock in. Go deep. Finish something.
Here’s the quote from Jeff Bezos. I like coming back to it.
Hyped for the video