I still wake up in cold sweats when I think about my old meeting schedule. Tuesdays looked like a game of calendar Tetris gone wrong. I’d dash from a brainstorm to a client call, then race to a team check-in – all before lunch.
That changed when I stumbled across the meeting binge method last month. Instead of spreading meetings throughout the week, I now stack them all on Wednesdays. My other days? They’re blissfully open for deep, focused work.
The concept is brilliantly simple. Bundle all your meetings into dedicated days or time blocks. This approach has transformed my workflow and mental health. I’ve gained four distraction-free days where I can truly dive into writing and research.
The science backs this up too. A Stanford study found that switching between tasks can reduce productivity by up to 40%. Our brains need time to settle into complex work. Each interruption steals more mental energy than we realize.
“Meeting binges create protective boundaries around your deep work time,” explains productivity coach Jamie Chen, whom I interviewed for a Epochedge Lifestyle piece last year. “Most people underestimate how long it takes to regain focus after interruptions.”
My colleague Raj tried this method too. “I was skeptical at first,” he told me over coffee yesterday. “But after three weeks, I’ve finished projects that had been lingering for months.”
The transition wasn’t entirely smooth. Some team members initially pushed back when I couldn’t meet on their preferred days. Setting expectations early made all the difference.
I also learned to build buffer time between meetings. Twenty-minute breaks let me process information, take notes, or simply breathe. No more feeling like I’d been hit by the meeting freight train at day’s end.
For remote teams, this approach works even better. Our LA office connects with partners in New York and London on designated days. Everyone knows when to expect collaboration time versus independent work.
The biggest surprise? Meeting quality improved dramatically. With all discussions happening in a concentrated timeframe, connections between projects became more apparent. Our team started spotting patterns and opportunities we’d missed before.
I’ve customized this method for my urban lifestyle. Meeting days often include lunch with sources or coffee with collaborators. I make these days about human connection, both professional and personal.
This approach isn’t just about productivity – it’s transformed my relationship with Los Angeles. On non-meeting days, I can work from my neighborhood café or Epochedge’s quiet courtyard. The city feels more accessible when I’m not racing between locations.
Even my sustainability efforts have improved. Consolidating in-person meetings means fewer car trips across town. One day of commuting instead of five makes a real difference for my carbon footprint.
The Harvard Business Review recently explored how excessive meetings drain company resources, both financially and emotionally. Meeting binges directly address this problem by creating intentional space for both collaboration and independent thought.
Would this productivity hack work for you? Consider your natural rhythms and work demands. Some people thrive with morning meeting blocks, saving afternoons for focused tasks. Others dedicate entire days, as I do.
The beauty lies in reclaiming control over your time. In a world that constantly fragments our attention, creating deliberate spaces for different types of work feels revolutionary. Maybe it’s time to reimagine your calendar too?
