I've decided to take a vacation from television for several months just to see how it affects my life.
I won't be able to escape the monster at the gym, where large, subtitled screens are positioned to keep treadmill users from going mad, but when at home, forget it. Books, radio, magazines, music, recreation, and the Internet will easily fill any gap.
The contraption will still be used for DVDs; I'm not giving up movies. That shift may affect the way I regard the set.
This "sacrifice" may well be a sizable gain.
I'll keep you posted.
8 comments:
I went about 3-4 months without TV last fall. I didn't miss it at all. I slept better, read more and was more productive. I also ate better since I didn't snack in front of the TV so much-or eat meals on the couch. I didn't miss network TV at all. The first week, I had a little bit of a twitch when I would sit on the couch, looking for the remote, but that went away quickly.
If I wasn't a sports fan, I would have kept it off. Being sick during a Patriot's late season game and unable to get out to a sports bar to watch got me to turn it back on. I have cut back on what I watch considerably though. I try to only watch TV by appointment (sports, cooking shows-my new hobby- and music mostly).
It not only saves time, but is a significant monthly savings as well as not spending on a big screen TV etc.
Good luck with the experiment. I think you are right and will find it is a gain, not a sacrifice. TV is much more of a habit than great entertainment.
Thanks, Joe.
I think it will be fun to see the results. There will be much less distraction. It may even be a stress-reducer.
I sense there is a change happening in the world of Mr Wade, having been a long time peruser of your intellectual machinations.
Rob,
You're very perceptive. I know that I've been jettisoning some projects and focusing more on refining effectiveness. I'm also working on a theory regarding productivity. It's still bubbling around upstairs and I'll let you know once it is clear.
I haven't watched TV since the beginning of the year and it's been brilliant. I've read more books, run more miles and had more quality time with my family than ever before.
Andrew,
I've already noticed the extra time and yes, I've been at the gym earlier than usual. So far, it's all been positive.
Having been a tv news presenter for 12 yrs, I took redundancy money 4 years ago. I set up my own communications company and as an experiment, stopped watching TV.
The experiment is so good I havent returned ! 4 years and counting ...trust me - you won't miss a thing and will have more time to study the stuff and spend time with people who matter to you. Oh, and as well as running my business, bringing up 2 small children, I have just finished co-authoring a book on portfolio working called "And What Do You Do? 10 steps to creating a Portfolio Career - publication date 15th Oct. Good luck with your experiment and enjoy your more fulfilling days. Katie
Katie,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm already seeing benefits. Good luck with your book!
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