bendslives
Bendslives is a contemporary sociocultural concept used to describe a lifestyle strategy in which individuals intentionally bend traditional life trajectories—such as education, career, and family planning—into more flexible, nonlinear paths.
The term emerged in online communities in the 2010s, likely as a portmanteau of 'bend' and 'lives.'
Key features include portfolio careers, modular timelines, frequent reassessment of goals, remote or freelance work, and
In practice, it describes gig economy workers, digital nomads, and creatives who blend work with personal projects.
Critics argue it can obscure structural inequalities, place burden of risk on individuals, and create pressure
See also related concepts such as flexible work, portfolio career, and resilience.