Screens vs Scenery

Technology is not inherently bad. Nature is not inherently good. The purposes for which we use either are often far more subjective and nuanced than we like to examine. Physical retreats in "natural" settings that promote a digital detox can be inspiring, coupling a vacation with active creative engagement. However, they are also less physically and mentally accessible for many. This reality heavily influenced our choice to offer retreats virtually. We want to help creatives around the world, not just those with the means to travel.

We believe that the accessibility of a creative retreat should not depend on location, travel finances, or physical ability. As people who live with chronic illness, we understand that fluctuations in energy and physical capabilities are unpredictable. It is impossible to get the best experience out of a retreat if a flare-up hits, which is why we allow for flexible rescheduling.

We have crafted our virtual retreats to maximize benefit without requiring participants to spend hours staring at a screen. We build in movement breaks, offer alternative timings, and focus on your individual needs and tolerances to minimize distractions while keeping you engaged without exhausting you.

Screen time can have lasting detrimental effects on our attention spans and cognitive functions. Our brains are being retrained by platforms designed by mega-corporations to keep our eyeballs glued to screens, keeping our cortisol levels elevated and dopamine imbalanced. It is telling that many tech executives send their own children to tech-free schools because they are well aware of how their products are designed to be addictive. We scroll and consume, diving into a digital ocean of unknown depths where the monsters are waiting to keep us underwater as long as possible.

But our bodies can adapt and heal. One of the best ways to reclaim our focus is through creative outlets—making things, experiencing art, and engaging with practices that free our minds from the trap of endless short-form content.

Advocating for this on corporate platforms is a paradox, but until we can thrive without these digital connections, it is a necessary path. This is all the more reason to invest in a retreat that, while held on a screen, works with you personally to build a practice where devices become tools for connection and inspiration instead of ‘escapes’ that aggravate more than they nurture.

Sometimes the screen is necessary. Play is vital, and if a video game is a source of joy, embrace it. Connection is necessary, and if an online group offers a genuine exchange of ideas, join it. Accessibility is fundamental, and if apps help you function, keep them. We don’t want to discourage tech use entirely. We want to help you be more conscious. By making creativity a primary counteraction to screen time, you can cultivate a more balanced, fulfilled life.

But also, fuck using ai to create. That’s not creating. That’s using a bot to steal creativity from others and shielding yourself from the essential discipline, learning, discovery, and inherent humanity of creativity.