An article by Agne Komkiene, ESC long term volunteer at IDC and Café Vert. November 2025.
Most of our days pass behind the screens – connected, yet strangely distant from the world around us. Somewhere between all the messages and notifications, we sometimes forget what it feels like to simply be. To slow down, to breathe, to look at something that doesn’t need charging.
After hours online, the mind starts to feel full but somehow empty at the same time. The endless noise of information makes silence feel rare. Eyes get tired, thoughts drift, and the real world slowly fades into the background. We tell ourselves we’re “resting” when scrolling, but often it’s more like running on a treadmill that never stops. There’s always something new, another story, another post, another reason to stay. And yet, the longer we stay, the more disconnected and lonely we feel.
I noticed that more deeply in October, during a youth exchange in Spain, in a small town called Arriondas. The project Back to rural was exactly that – a return to simplicity and to the moments that don’t need a screen to feel real. We spent our days outside, surrounded by mountains and animals – helping locals settle in, joining outdoor workshops, going on hikes, and spending most of our time under the open sky. No screens, no PowerPoint presentations – just a real pause from it all.
Without trying, my screen time dropped to almost nothing. Days were filled with real conversations, shared meals, and the slow rhythm of nature. Most of the time, my phone stayed untouched. I even had to remind myself to take some pictures – to capture this experience. Back to rural became not only the name of the project, but also a feeling, a quiet reminder that when screen time is low, the presence is high.
After this youth exchange, I was thinking about what presence means to me, and I wrote down a few simple things I want to practise:
- letting the sun, not the screen, be the first thing I look at in the morning;
- enjoying my meals without distractions;
- going on daily walks somewhere quiet and green;
- and reading, not scrolling before bed.
I want to be more conscious and cherish the moments offline. And to you, dear human on the other side reading this – I wish you to discover more moments outside the screen.
