Offline October

Motivation

Social media is expertly designed to steal your attention and prey on human addiction. Almost everything is an ad. If you are privileged enough to step away from any or all of it, for just a month — consider what this might restore to your soul. In that silence and space, ideas that had been waiting patiently might arrive; latent ambitions waiting to be actualized might finally form. The framework I have set for myself below may be a bit elaborate- yours need not be. It could be as simple as deleting the one app that sucks you into a hole with its infinite scroll. Follow your heart!

"Do everything with a mind that lets go. Don't accept praise or gain or anything else. If you let go a little you a will have a little peace; if you let go a lot you will have a lot of peace; if you let go completely you will have complete peace."

― Ajahn Chah

All you have to do is pick something and stick to it. LFG (let fucking go).

Objections

"I don't have a scrolling problem."

Try it anyway — completely block out one form of social media. It's just one month.

"I pay an app / device to limit my screen time."

See above.

"Where will I get recipes?"

Write some down ahead of time! Or pick up a cookbook that's been laying around, or a new one from the bookshop.

"But I have a highly curated algorithm!"

It is my view that God has left you (but you can always find Her again).

"You have attention deficit disorder and should be medicated."

Word.

Parameters

I will not use

Television. Online video streaming (YouTube included)
Social Media (I've deactivated Instagram, Facebook- even LinkedIn.)
Headphones on walks or on the train
Spotify and Soundcloud
Dating apps (I've deleted these.)
Discord
Podcasts
Online News
Substack
Duolingo (I will give up my streak at 888. Sorry Duo)
Online adult content

Additionally

Grayscale phone screen
Block all app notifications and badges except ones that would really require immediate attention- messages, calls, pet sitting app.

I will allow

Live local radio and NTS- only at home and at the gym
Audiobooks at home
TV and video in the company of others
Whatsapp, but no stories

I will continue to

Send my friends and family photos and ask them to send me photos.
Go to the movies

Dazzling images, on a huge silver screen. Sound that I can feel.

I will pick up

Daily music production practice - even just 5 minutes

Join

If you would like to take part, email me a statement naming the online activity you will relinquish for the month of October. You may, if you wish, pair that renunciation with something you intend to take up in its place — though I urge you not to burden yourself with the pressure of substitution. Reclaiming your attention and time is enough. Include any conditions you would like to set for yourself. The only true requirements are your statement, and letting me know if you would like it published here — because I would.

When the month has ended, I will check in with each participant and request a reflection.

krish@[thiswebsite]

Reflection

This Offline October, I

Did way too many things, still
But still found time to be, to be bored, to be still
Bit off more than I could chew - nothing new
Traveled, traveled again
Remembered and reflected and realized many things
Read and rekindled and reconnected and read some more
Missed streaming songs
But found other avenues
And rediscovered the musical rapture when I returned
Spent time with mom and dad at home, and it was right, and it was Diwali, and it was a gift, and I was present, and I am thankful
Had a hard time saying goodbye
Walked and walked, per usual, but more mindfully
Returned to chaos but found peace, confidence, resilience, and gratitude

I did not

Produce music everyday
Mind very much

Here's the tracklist for the Offline October album I didn't make:

Little Man
Flehmen Response
Play by year
Near life experience
That's the way it Seems
There is no need to pretend anything
Walking on the Earth heals our alienation
I fell in love at SoulCycle
Little Man 16
Let Fucking Go

My relapse was strong! But brief. I will carry forward some things, and maybe some more. Letting go is a powerful practice. I miss you and I love you. See you next Offline October, and also before that.