I Started a Second Letter - Here's Why

You're not obligated to join

I just fired up a second substack letter called Off Screen Life. The goal is different than here, so you might not want to head over there. It’s only for people who feel like the pace of life and business is going fast, and that you want to be intentional about taking little off screen breaks. It’s not for everyone. You might be just fine here.

You probably have figured out that I’m endlessly prolific. I can write more than you want to read. And about many different pursuits. So, I knew I couldn’t bury you in my off screen project, but I can tell you that it’s important to me for 2026 and beyond.

AI Velocity is Inevitable

While I’m away from home right now, I’m face to face with the fact that many people are still trying to operate as if slow is an option for average day to day transactions. I mean, everything is an option. You can wait in line for a bank teller, or you can use electronic banking and just get your money now. The only setting on business is “now.” Are you open? Not til— that’s okay. I’ll just go somewhere that I can be ready now.

AI isn’t everything, but it sure can make everything faster. I can build a functional app prototype in an hour or so. I can give that to a smart engineer with paperwork I don’t even know how to write and they can make it a real boy. I built an entire full fledged marketing strategy in an hour, and 45 minutes of that was gathering up old documents.

So, given that. Understanding that NOW is the only speed. We are going to need time off screen. We’re going to need breaks.

Ask the Stableboys and Lamplighters and Loom Girls if They Agree

I’ve given up arguing about this particular topic because it’s just inevitable. Desired even (in several cases). To me, there’s an “it’s both” brewing.

We will use tools that make things go faster. We will desire breaks where we can get away from our screens, wander around, observe and reflect.

Christopher Penn said recently that when we added farm equipment that turned a week’s work into two hours, it’s not like farmers worked two hours and quit for the rest of the week. They just did more work in different ways. We’ll do the same with this. Which is why I feel strongly that we’ll have to consciously choose to get off screen.

The New Letter Might Not Be for You

It’s about finding your space, taking some time, building some small rituals and practices to keep your head on straight. I think off screen life will become important to most of us. The ones of us who will surrender one way or another, maybe it won’t be for you.

But I’m thinking others of us will want this.

So, that’s why I put up another letter. It’ll be a bit more of a crossover with my photography YouTube channel. Maybe for you, it’s sketching, or journaling, or picking up knitting. Whatever gets the screen out of your face and gives you time to breathe, to observe and reflect.

Anyhow, that’s what’s on my mind.

Yes, I’ll still write this letter quite regularly. I’ll just also write that one regularly, too. :)

Chris…