Technology may make your business run well, but it can be a heavy distraction during a company retreat. While we do recommend using technology to your advantage in your strategic planning and leadership development sessions, it’s also important to unplug, disconnect, and step back from your devices as much as possible during your retreat. Why? The constant barrage of emails, notifications, and digital demands can also be overwhelming and distracting. This doesn’t even include the major disruptions that come from social media and endless scrolling on a device.
A ”tech-free” retreat can offer a transformative experience for businesses and their teams. By disconnecting from the digital world and immersing your team in nature, focus sessions, and good old-fashioned facetime, teams can bring more focus to their retreat agenda, boost their creativity, and make their company retreat more successful. They may also discover something about each other and themselves they never knew before.
Don’t believe us? See how making your next retreat (mostly) tech-free is more conducive to meeting your goals.
The Importance of Disconnecting from Work
You didn’t come up here to work for your business; you came up here to work on your business. One of the primary benefits of a tech-free retreat is the opportunity to disconnect from the relentless pace of work. In the office, employees are often pulled in multiple directions, juggling emails, meetings, and deadlines. This constant connectivity can lead to burnout, reduced productivity, and diminished creativity. By stepping away from technology, team members can clear their minds, recharge, and help you determine what is best for your business. Most importantly, they can focus on themselves to discover how they can grow and best fit into your overall business plan.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that constant connectivity and multitasking can significantly increase stress levels and decrease overall wellbeing. Another study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology showed that participants who took a break from technology and spent time in nature experienced lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and reported feeling more relaxed and focused.
Nature is a Catalyst for Creativity
There’s something inherently inspiring about nature. The sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors can stimulate the senses and spark creativity in ways that typical office environments cannot. Research has shown that spending time in nature can enhance cognitive function, improve problem-solving skills, and boost creative thinking.
A 2012 study by the University of Kansas found that participants who spent time in nature showed a 50% improvement in creative problem-solving tasks. Similarly, research published by Stanford demonstrated that walking in natural environments can significantly increase creativity and divergent thinking, which are essential for innovation and brainstorming sessions.
Increased Productivity Through Immersion
When employees are constantly connected to technology, they often experience mental fatigue, which in turn reduces productivity. Getting off these devices and stepping outside has a restorative effect on both the mind and body. We’re literally telling you to get outside and touch grass. It’ll be good for you and your team, and its benefits are backed by medical research.
Attention Restoration Theory (ART), which was proposed by environmental psychologists Stephen Kaplan and Rachel Kaplan, suggests that natural environments help restore depleted cognitive resources, improving concentration and task performance. Studies have supported this theory, showing that individuals who take breaks in natural settings return to work with improved attention spans and productivity levels.
Building Stronger Teams Through Outdoor Activities
Retreat team building activities are not only enjoyable but also serve as powerful tools for improving teamwork and communication. Engaging in group activities like ropes courses, search and rescue games, and other experiential learning opportunities that require cooperation and collaboration helps team members build trust and overcome challenges together. Even spending time around a campfire is enough to increase the bonds between the most important people in your office/
Research from the University of California, Berkeley, found that outdoor team-building activities can improve social bonding and group cohesion. These shared experiences create lasting memories and strengthen bonds among team members, which translates into better collaboration and improved performance back at work.
Enhance Focus at an Isolated Retreat Setting
Our company retreat destination at Sugar Lake is far removed from the distractions of your office, whether it’s located in the Twin Cities or anywhere else in the state. Our secluded retreat offers a peaceful and focused environment that is ideal for retreats centered on leadership development, strategic planning, or anything else your business needs. The natural surroundings of the Minnesota Northwoods and Sugar Lake will help your team focus and thoughtfully reflect on their goals.
Let’s start planning your retreat today! Get in touch with our resort today to see everything we have to offer your business during your next company retreat.