Follow on 5 Immediate Benefits of Balancing TV out of Your Life
Posted in Balanced Lifestyle, Real People, Real Balance | June 26, 2012 | 13 Comments
TweetBy guest author Mrs. Hill
Simple: if you want to achieve anything in your life – throw out your TV set.
That alone can become the single most important positive change in your life.
How we accidentally got rid of TV in 2007 and never looked back
We got married in 2005. My husband had already had cable plugged in, so we started our married life with Oprah, Dr Phil and news at the background. Saturday mornings were beginning with pancakes and Simpsons. Afternoons were filled with news around the world and normal channel browsing sometimes till midnight (we have all done that). We were very content and TV provided the perfect fix to take the edge off if one of us felt too stressed out at work.
TV was the perfect substitute for communication, so we did not have too many friends at the time, but life was normal. I could hear TV of our neighbors plugged in all the time, so we definitely were not alone.
Then we moved and had to ask ourselves, do we plug in the cable again or not. We were saving money for the house, so we decided to see how we go without the cable. Our TV was damaged during the move, so we had also to decide whether to buy the new one or not. And we decided to hold on. Temporarily… You know, that nothing is more permanent then temporary, right?! It was 2007.
Well, now when we look back, we both think that it was our wisest decision in balancing our life and family.
- Instead of Oprah and Dr Phil, we got long conversations over dinner. These conversations built our marriage from strength to strength. These conversations allowed us to discuss our common goals, fears, hopes. We shared childhood stories and dreams about the future of our family.
- Instead of communication substitute, we’ve got the real communication. We started inviting more people and making more friends as a family.
- Instead of hysteria of news, we would watch nice movies (via computer) that would relieve stress and make us both happy.
- Instead of browsing TV channels until late at night, we started studying at the University.
Let’s weigh up pros and cons of watching TV
Pros
- It is a wonderful temporary fix after a hard day at work, great stress relief.
- TV is a great simulation of communication.
- You are up to date with the news and shows.
Cons
- TV slowly eats up your time and throws your life in disarray.
- You get addicted to one show after another and then you fall asleep in front of a TV.
- You do not get enough sleep, communication, time or energy and it is only the beginning because it is going to get worse and worse.
- Your family suffers.
- By watching TV in bed you automatically cut the precious time you would have had discussing important issues with your loved one or sleeping.
- By watching TV while eating you stay distracted (lose the connection to the present moment) and overeat.
- TV might be the single cause of why you feel isolated and lonely. You substitute communication with screen time, and that is why you have fewer friends than you desire. The vicious cycle.
The guaranteed and instant benefits of excluding TV from your life:
- more time,
- higher quality communication with your loved ones,
- better sleep,
- less stress,
- overall feeling of well-being, freedom and happiness.
Wake up and say “no” to TV (it ‘s a drug).
Couple of funny quotes instead of conclusion…
TV is a chewing gum for the eyes.
Frank Lloyd Wright – Tweet this
Television is the triumph of machine over people.
Fred Allen – Tweet this
Television enables you to be entertained in your home by people you wouldn’t have in your home.
David Frost – Tweet this
Do you watch TV?
Do you feel that it’s an essential part of your lifestyle or a time trap?
Leave your thoughts below…
The Ninja Wife is a women-only blog. It is about embracing the differences between men and women and capitalizing on these differences. You will learn how to inspire and empower your man in a ninja way (using his power, not going against it). After learning some simple techniques you will become an irresistible girlfriend or adored wife in complete control of your feminine charm warfare. Check it out on http://theninjawife.com/
Photo credit: Black Eyes
You may also like -
Get in the Balance Zone
| How about joining the exclusive circle of life balance seekers? Subscribe to my newsletter, get all the balanced goodness (and more) and don't forget to download your free Book of Wisdom: 50 Ideas for the all-around balanced life. |
Leave a Reply
Smart Thoughts (13)
Most Popular
- 101 Healthy Habits that Anyone Can Follow
- The Happy Couple Cheat Sheet: 15 Steps to a Balanced and Happy Marriage (Relationship)
- 10 Things to Do When There Is Too Much on You
- Running every day keeps aging away: the most complete list of running benefits
- A Simple and Fast Guide to Patience for Impatient People
Hello, 
TV does have a powerful butterfly effect like you described. My partner and I went through a similar transition and have been TV free since 2003. Since then I’ve watched our communication, connection, and awareness grow by leaps and bounds! In contrast, families who watch TV as a habit seem much more frantic, fearful, and zoned out. They quote the news for reasons to be afraid and speak of TV characters more then they do their own goals and dreams. I really don’t want to go back to that way of life! Such an odd exchange when we trade our awareness for that quick fix of stimulation + communication.
Thank you for sharing your story and breaking down the pros and cons of unplugging. You’re paving the way for others to do the same! <3
Thank you Lauren.
Very thoughtful. I do agree with your contrast of families and people who watch and don’t watch TV.
In our office almost everybody (around 9 people) refused TV and they paint, write, build boats instead.
TV can be very addictive.
Appreciate your valuable input, Lauren.
it gives you more time with yourself, and encourages critical thinking.
also you get to save some money, which you in turn can use on other activities.
Absolutely, Charles
So it is actually 8 immediate benefits.
6. more me-time for reflection,
7. more money (saving on Power bill, cable bill and TV upgrades),
8. time is spent on more productive activities.
Thank you, really good points, Charles!
We are definitely not alone in this positive change.
While I do have a subscription to Netflix now (and I’m loving re-watching Xena: Warrior Princess episodes) I haven’t had cable since 2007 myself. The only reason I even still have a television is that I’ve got old gaming consoles like my N64 and Super NES to connect to it. Otherwise I wouldn’t have it at all. I totally agree that TV is a negative thing in people’s lives! I know people who would rather skip social events than miss their regularly scheduled favourite TV programs. Not to mention it’s almost frightening how emotionally invested people can get with things like reality television, and start to take the character’s (let’s face it, it’s reality TV, not reality, they’re characters) pitfalls as personally as if they were their own. And that’s not even touching the subject of commercials and the impact of daily, weekly, monthly, yearly media and advertising bombardment to your brain. If you don’t see commercials for a Sham Wow/Wendy’s burger/that new car, you’re far less likely to be influenced from the outside and be capable of making choices on your own without their being falsely biased.
Celynne, I am glad I am not the only one who loves Xena: Warrior Princess. I guess it’s our not-so-feminine inner nature trying to get out
I need to look up Xena on Netflix. It’s on my priority list for tonight…
Celynne
Very valid point about commercials. If your mind is not in the fog of commercials, you can make a smoother move towards non-consumerism. I completely forgot about it! Thank you for raising it.
And reality TV is just another addiction with usually distorted view.
Thank you for your profound thoughts.
Anastasiya, you watch Xena, I watch Underbelly. I think it is totally fine and we are more than allowed to have our little guilty pleasures. Watching TV indiscriminately is addictive, letting TV rule your life and as Celynne points out, refuse social events, that is wrong.
This is a great article on a subject I’m currently struggling with too – whether or not to keep TV. I’ve downgraded to basic cable at least – this can certainly inspire to get rid of this timesuck completely:-)
Thank you – I love it!
Yes, Cheyenne, love the word – timesuck! Thank you!
I unplugged my cable a few months ago when I realized I hadn’t watched TV in the previous 3 months! I’m a writer and avid reader so I really don’t miss it.
Hi Marquita
Great to hear!
So, you are like Groucho Marx who said “I find television very educational. Every time someone switches it on I go into another room and read a good book.”
Thank you!
When I moved out to go to uni, I had no TV. I thought I was going to miss it, but I knew I could get one sometime if I felt like it. Time went on and I discovered that there was really nothing I missed about it. I still watched shows, just on my laptop from DVD instead. It meant that I chose what I watched more consciously instead of channel surfing.
After a year my housemate bought a new TV and asked if I wanted his old one, I thought about it for a minute and realised to my surprise that not only did I not miss it, I actually didn’t want one at all, not even for free. I happily lived for 3 years without one.
I love the shows I watch, and I love films, but I don’t love the noise of adverts interrupting my viewing, and I don’t love having what I watch being dictated to me by an external timetable.
I’m living back at home at the moment, with a big TV downstairs, but me and the friend I will be renting with next year have already decided we won’t be buying a TV when we move.
Vrinda
That is amazing.
We also just got some spare money and we are thinking how we are going to spend it and hubbie said: “it is interesting how buying TV does not even come to the mind”. You are right, we do not need it, even for free too.
Great decision! Good Job!