Do you feel like you don’t have time to do the things you’d like to do?
Do you wish you had more time to exercise or take up that hobby you’ve always been interested in?
Do you wish you had more quality time with the people you care about?
The answer to these dilemmas may be in the middle of your living room. After work and sleep, TV viewing is the most commonly reported activity in the U.S., taking up just over half of all leisure time. In the U.S., people average about five hours of TV time each day. TV Watching:
- Increases the liklihood of gaining weight, becoming overweight or obese,
- Increases the risk of weight-related disease including heart disease, diabetes, and early death (1),
- Leads to lower attention and poor brain development in children.
Need more reasons to stop watching television? Check out Kill Your TV.
About three years ago, I made the commitment to stop watching television, and for the most part, have been able to stick to that. For almost a year, I didn’t even own a television. While I will still occasionally watch a movie or catch a short clip of The Daily Show on my iPad, I no longer spend my evenings or weekends in front of the television. Not watching television has allowed me to focus more energy on:
- Learning yoga and starting a yoga practice,
- Going to the gym and working out on a regular basis,
- Working on completing my Master’s degree,
- Starting my own businesses and blogs,
- Planting and working on my garden,
- Learning photography and offering my photos for sale on two photo websites,
- And perhaps most importantly, meeting and marrying my husband!
Enjoy Replacement Activities – What things would you love to have more of in your life? These may include:
- Exercise – start a new activity, get a gym membership, train for a 5k, or just enjoy an evening walk.
- Improve your relationships – spend time with friends and family members.
- Start a new hobby or learn new skills– learn how to knit, sew, make candles, garden, or cook.
- Go back to school – finish your degree, start a master’s program, or learn new skills such as graphic design, photography, massage therapy.
- Organizing and decluttering your home or office – to simplify your life.
- Start a blog and share your knowledge with others.
- Join a Meetup Group – where you can learn salsa dancing, wine tasting, public speaking, computer skills, or just meet new friends.
- Develop a spiritual practice – visit a new church, learn meditation, or practice gratitude.
What are your thoughts? Share below.
I’ll bet it took a lot of will power to give up the TV and stick with it. My sister and her husband have done the same thing although they will still watch movies and shows online a few times a week. I’ve been trying to curb my TV use, too, and you’re right – I do have more time now for things that matter more.
Thank you – it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be actually once I started doing other things. Glad you have found more time also!
Wait! I have to get rid of my tv?! But it’s almost football season! 🙂
Don’t worry, you can still watch football. One suggestion is to start gradually limiting time in front of the television and to be very intentional when you do watch it. If football is your passion, there’s no reason to give it up.