So, apparently, it’s Blackout August in some corners of the grid. The idea? No shopping for a whole month. A challenge for those who feel they’ve been sprinting through every event like it’s a competitive sport, scooping up fatpacks as if the virtual police might confiscate them.
Some are treating it like Lent, some like a wellness cleanse, and others feel like buying new hair at an event this month is the gateway to total moral collapse.
Personally? I’ve never experienced that level of shopping compulsion, probably because my Second Life rhythm has always been a mix of exploring, chatting, people-watching… and yes, buying something fabulous because it makes me smile.
And while I get that some folks want a month off from their wallets, I can’t help but feel a little “hmm” at the idea that shopping itself is the villain.
I love events. I love creators. They make Second Life sparkle. For me, balance doesn’t mean cutting out joy; it means pairing the thrill of a new outfit with the equally delicious act of doing… absolutely nothing.
Which brings me to today’s little secret: sometimes I log in, find a gorgeous spot, and then… do absolutely nothing. No styling outfits, no sorting inventory, no joining group chats, no dramatic monologues about my land tier. Just me, sitting on a bench like a confused NPC, quietly admiring the view while my AO does its very best to pretend I’m deep in thought.
And it’s glorious.
Now, I know this might sound suspiciously similar to this post about avoiding drama and staying chill, but trust me, it’s not. That one involved doing things. This one is about not doing things. Big difference.
🫖 Step 1: Find a pretty place
Not a dance club, not a breedable market, and definitely not your own parcel (because we both know you’ll just end up adjusting the couch for two hours). I mean somewhere meant for loitering. A hidden garden, a dreamy dock, a misty forest, a windswept café terrace where nobody cares what your profile says.
Pro tip: Pick a place where the lighting makes you look ten years younger.
🪵 Step 2: Sit
That’s it. Sit. Maybe choose a pose. Maybe don’t. Bonus points if you look vaguely philosophical, like you’re pondering the meaning of mesh or trying to remember if you paid your rent box.
If you’re feeling adventurous, lie down. This is advanced loitering. Not everyone is ready for that level of commitment.
👀 Step 3: Observe
Watch people go by. Wonder what their stories are. Why is that goth wearing jorts? Where is that tiny horse going in such a hurry? Who built this perfect fountain, and why does it make you want to write poetry about toast?
Do not, under any circumstances, feel compelled to talk. This is not a social activity. This is intentional idleness.
🌀 Step 4: Resist
Do not check Marketplace “just quickly.”
Do not open your inventory.
Do not start up Discord.
Do not accidentally adopt a cat.
You are here to do nothing. Doing nothing is the goal. You are succeeding by loitering with purpose.
💡 Step 5: Let it sink in
This isn’t laziness. It’s digital self-care. It’s a quiet protest against “always being busy” culture, even in a virtual world. You’re not wasting time, you’re soaking in ambience. You’re recharging. You’re the main character in a slow, artsy machinima that no one asked for but desperately needs.
TL;DR:
Permission granted. Go. Sit. Loiter. Breathe. Scroll less. Exist more.
Let the grid spin without you for a moment. It’ll be fine.
If you’re doing Blackout August? You do you. If you’re not? Same here: I’ll be shopping, exploring, and still finding time to just sit and breathe. Enjoying shopping and taking time for yourself is totally compatible.
