I am remiss I didn’t hear about the Offline October movement until a story was published on Colorado Public Radio last week (turns out I’m not the only late one). But the good news is it’s never too late to make positive changes!
The Offline October movement was started by students in suburban Denver after two of their peers took their own lives in the same week earlier this year. The organization asks teenagers on social media to stop posting stories and start living them; to stop worrying about followers and be with real-life friends.
“We believe that social media plays a negative role in teenagers lives and is a factor to depression and suicide,” the Offline October website says.
Carson McLeod, a junior at Heritage High School, helped launch Offline October, and produced the video below. He spoke with Colorado Public Radio about the organization’s mission.
Alternatives to Social Media Throughout October
Source: Offline October
1. GO ON A HIKE WITH FRIENDS
2. HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL CARNIVAL
3. BUY SOMEBODY’S COFFEE OR BEVERAGE
4. GO TO THE ZOO
5. HAVE A STUDY GROUP
6. WRITE A LETTER TO A FRIEND
7. HAVE A PICNIC
8. GO WATCH THE SUNSET
9. GO WATCH THE SUNRISE AT RED ROCKS
10. GO TO A HAUNTED HOUSE
11. GO TO A PUMPKIN PATCH
12. GO TO A CORNMAZE
13. PLAY A BASKETBALL GAME
14. PLAY A VOLLEYBALL GAME
15. PLAY CAPTURE THE FLAG
16. HAVE A SPIKEBALL TOURNAMENT
17. HAVE A SOCCER TOURNAMENT
18. BAKE COOKIES FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS
19. TUTOR A YOUNGER STUDENT
20. TRY A NEW SPORT
21. VISIT A MUSEUM
22. VOLUNTEER AT A CHARITY
23. GO HAMMOCK WITH FRIENDS
24. CALL AN OLD FRIEND
25. GO TO A CONCERT
26. GO TO A MOVIE
27. HOST A DINNER WITH FRIENDS
28. HAVE A BONFIRE
29. GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME
30. HOST A GAME NIGHT
31. COOK FOR YOU FRIENDS
32. BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN
33. GO TO A STREET MARKET
34. START A BOOK CLUB
35. START A CHAIN REACTION
36. WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE
37. CALL YOUR GRANDPARENTS
38. START A BOOKCLUB
39. SERVE LUNCH TO THE HOMELESS
40. LIST 10 THINGS YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR
41. SAY “THANK YOU” IN 10 LANGUAGES
42. WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR FUTURE SELF
43. GO FISHING
44. FLY A KITE
45. HAVE A TENNIS TOURNAMENT
46. RUN A 5K
47. TOUR DENVER
48. TRAVEL TO WESTERN COLORADO
49. GO CAMPING WITH FRIENDS
50. PLANT A TREE
51. GO BOWLING
And some teen-generated ideas:
52. TRY A BOOKCLUB submitted by Mackenzie V
53. START A FUNDRAISER submitted by Eliza B
54. GO TO CHURCH submitted by Ann Y
55. GO TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY submitted by Adam E
56. COMPLIMENT A STRANGER submitted by Lauren S
57. WALK A NEIGHBOR’S PET submitted by CYL
58. HAVE A CRAFT NIGHT submitted by CYL
59. TALK TO SOMEONE NEW submitted by CYL
60. START A FLASHMOB submitted by CYL
61. EXPLORE YOUR TOWN submitted by CYL
62. TRY A NEW FOOD submitted by CYL
63. MAKE A PLAYLIST submitted by CYL
64. GO FOR A BIKE RIDE submitted by CYL
65. DONATE OLD CLOTHES submitted by CYL
66. BOARD GAME NIGHT submitted by CYL
67. CARVE PUMPKINS submitted by CYL
68. GO TO A SKATEPARK submitted by Dante W
69. FIND A NEW HIKING TRAIL submitted by Jayden
70. GO TO THE REC CENTER WITH FRIENDS submitted by Mrs. Orsen’s Class
71. COOK FOR YOUR FAMILY submitted by Amy H
72. GO TO AN INDOOR POOL submitted by Sydney M
73. TRY A NEW STYLE submitted by Vailey N
74. JOIN A YOUTH GROUP submitted by Jazlyn R
75. SPEND TIME WITH A YOUNGER SIBLING OR COUSINsubmitted by Jazlyn R
76. SPEND THE DAY WITH YOUR MOM/DAD submitted by Dawson L
77. DO SOMETHING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE submitted by Kayte T
78. BABYSIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS submitted by Abby C
79. MAKE A CARD FOR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUTsubmitted by Faith G
80. VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITY submitted by Ailin M
81. HAVE A HALLOWEEN PARTY submitted by Katie G
82. TALK TO YOUR CRUSH submitted by Tony B
83. TELL YOUR FRIENDS WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU submitted by Esther K
84. BUY A MEAL FOR THE HOMELESS submitted by Tony B