Deep Work Retreats
You don't have a discipline problem. You have an environment problem.
I'm Interested"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."— Annie Dillard
Why This Exists
Hi. I'm Jenn.
I'm the human behind this project. I live with MS and I'm neurodivergent. That means I have an exquisitely sensitive nervous system that needs things modern work structurally denies all of us: long uninterrupted windows to focus. One task at a time. Minimal external input. Reprieve from the tsunami of often-unnecessary pings.
Cycling through multiple burnouts had me believing this was a me problem. Turns out, it wasn't (mostly). Turns out, it's an environment problem (mostly).
Each one costs roughly 23 minutes of cognitive recovery and the equivalent of 11% of your annual income. Some studies say 60% of work has become work about work — meaning you have 40% of the time to do 100% of the things. The math doesn't math.
We're never actually working. At least not on what matters most. We've become expensive routers frenetically redirecting information between inboxes and Slack channels while the important stuff gets deferred to some hypothetical future "when things calm down".
Those aren't you problems either.
It turns out the things that keep me well meaningfully improve performance, creativity, and quality of output for everyone, regardless of neurotype.
When you design for the most sensitive nervous system in the room, you get an environment where every nervous system performs better.
The Deep End is your chance to experience that better possible environment: a week-long, fully-hosted immersion on Vancouver Island where depth is by design.
This is something I need to exist.
I'm betting you might too.
The Experience
A distraction-free, fully hosted week in a beautiful place.
The gift of not being reachable. Long, uninterrupted blocks for deep work. Phones on DND. White space in the calendar. When nobody can get to you, your nervous system finally settles — and the version of you that can actually think comes back online.
Deep work is a biological function. It requires a nervous system that isn't on constant alert. Everything here is designed around that reality. The environment does what willpower alone cannot.
Monks didn't work in cells. They worked in scriptoriums, side by side, in shared silence. Proximity to others pursuing depth makes your own depth possible.
"Attention may be better protected by design than by self-discipline."— Institute for Organizational Science and Mindfulness
This is for you if
This might not be your thing if
FAQ
It helps to have a project or intention in mind — something you've been wanting to get to but haven't had the space for. That said, some people come to think, plan, or make decisions that require uninterrupted time. The container works for all of these.
No. We'll socialize at meals but there will be quiet focus blocks and silent, library-like zones. You won't be interrupted during work blocks, and there's no pressure to be social when you need to be heads-down.
This retreat asks you to fully step away for five days. If you can't clear your calendar, this probably isn't the right time. The whole point is to experience what becomes possible when you're not constantly being pulled out of depth.
You could. It would cost almost the same. And if you've tried that and it worked — genuinely, consistently worked — you might not need this. But most people find that removing themselves isn't the only variable that matters. This provides the things that are more difficult to replicate alone: structure you didn't have to build, meals you don't have to think about, boundaries someone else is holding, and the surprising effect of working alone, together.
The Deep End is a professional development investment — tax-deductible for the self-employed, and a strong case for employer PD budgets. We'll provide resources for both circumstances. Pricing will be released when registration opens. We anticipate an average price of $2K for the week, with lower- and higher-end options available, as well as some unique financial accessibility options.
We're only moving forward if there's sufficient interest at this stage. If you want this to exist, we need to hear from you now → Take the survey
On Vancouver Island, BC — forested, oceanfront, and far enough from the city to feel like another world. We'll share full venue details when registration opens.
We're planning our first retreats for late Spring 2026. Join the interest list to be the first to know when dates are announced and registration opens.
No. Cal's book Deep Work is the inspiration for this experience but there is no formal association. We attempt to be transparent and give credit where it's due wherever we borrow directly from Cal's research or ideas.
Writing
I've been thinking about the future of work and learning for over 20 years. Lately I think out loud about it on my Substack, f*ck i love you. I've started a dedicated series about deep work →
Read on SubstackJoin our interest list for Spring 2026 retreat dates and early access to registration.
I'm Interested"I want this not only for artists and writers, but for any person who perceives life to be more than an instrument and therefore something that cannot be optimized."— Jenny Odell