Kritreat: Out Of Office

Today felt different the moment we stepped outside. No screens, no tabs, no endless notifications — just the team, a bit of sunlight, and the kind of quiet you only notice once you're away from the city. Kritreat was meant to be a break, but it ended up feeling more like a reset.

We wandered into nature with no real agenda except to breathe and be present. Somewhere between the trees and the open sky, people who usually talk about deadlines started talking about life, ideas, and random nonsense that somehow still felt meaningful. Laughter came easier. Conversations felt lighter. And for once, inspiration didn't come from a Figma board — it came from just being together.

Maybe stepping out of the office is exactly what we needed to remember why we love what we do. The work will always be there, but moments like these remind us who we're doing it with.

Natures Revision?

As the trail stretched on, something shifted. Our usual roles blurred. Designers walked alongside developers, marketing joked with ops, and for once no one cared who was presenting what in Monday's meeting. Being outside stripped away the usual formality — we were just people sharing the same path, literally and figuratively. The air felt fresher, but maybe that was just the feeling of finally slowing down.

There was something grounding about seeing everyone unplug — no ring lights, no calendars, no “quick 5-min updates.” Just natural light, the crunch of gravel under our shoes, and the breeze doing its thing. At one point we stopped at a lookout, and for a moment no one said anything. It wasn't awkward; it was the quiet kind of togetherness that you don't get in a workspace filled with clicking keyboards and muted microphones.

Even the smallest moments stood out. Someone pointing out a weird plant. Someone else insisting a rock looked like a potato. The team mascot (at this point unofficial but universally acknowledged) trying to lead the way by confidently going in the wrong direction. These are the things that never make it into Slack threads but somehow become the stories you remember the most.

When lunchtime came, we sat on mismatched mats and random patches of grass, sharing snacks that had no business tasting as good as they did. Maybe everything tastes better outdoors, or maybe it was just the lack of stress seasoning. People traded food, gave unsolicited life tips, and basically behaved like a chaotic but supportive family. It was honestly kind of wholesome.

As the sun started to dip, reality slowly crept back in. But even then, no one rushed. No one was thinking about unread emails or unfinished tasks. For once, time felt slow in the best way possible. We packed up with the kind of reluctant peace that comes from knowing the day is ending but wishing it didn't have to.

On the way back, the conversations turned softer — what everyone learned, what surprised them, what they were grateful for. A few people joked about making this a monthly thing, and honestly, no one disagreed. There was this shared understanding that the retreat wasn't just another company activity; it was a reminder that the people behind the work matter just as much as the work itself.

Kritreat didn't give us some dramatic life-changing revelation. But it gave us space — space to breathe, reconnect, laugh, think, and exist outside the boundaries of office walls. And maybe that's exactly what we needed: a reminder that creativity, teamwork, and inspiration grow best when you give them room.

By the time we reached back, we weren't just "out of the office." We were refreshed, recharged, and somehow a little more connected — to nature, to the team, and maybe even to ourselves.