Before we made the decision to intentionally live with less, we were just a typical family of four living in the suburbs. But since finding a rational approach to minimalism, our lives have changed in countless ways – some big, some small.
One change that seemed small at the time actually had a profound impact on the quality of our lives, marriage, and family. We removed the television from our bedroom. At first, it was just a 30-day experiment. But given the overwhelming benefits that accompanied its removal, it is a change we look back on with great fondness.
Consider the benefits:
1. More/Better sleep. The same statistics that tell us Americans watch over 35 hours of television/week are the same statistics that make it clear the lure of the screen is just too strong to turn off. No one sets out to spend 5 hours/day watching television. The temptation is too great… especially when we are tired. Not only does television in the bedroom keep us up later at night, but there are also studies that indicate watching television before bed actually disrupts sleep cycles. Removing the television from your bedroom results in more sleep and better sleep… which means you’ll have a better rested, more productive day.
2. What you think about last matters. The evening provides valuable opportunity to meditate, evaluate, and assess your day. This examination leads to learning from our mistakes and growing as humans. Unfortunately, many people will sacrifice this opportunity for the sake of entertainment.
3. What you think about first matters. Every morning begins with a clean slate and brand new opportunities. Allowing your television to guide your morning thoughts takes that blank canvas and begins painting. We would be wise to choose carefully who/what directs our morning thoughts rather than blindly allowing television producers to do it for us. After all, it sets the stage for the rest of the day.
4. Example for your kids. Children with televisions in their bedrooms score lower on school tests and are more likely to have sleep problems. Also, having a television in the bedroom is strongly associated with being overweight and a higher risk for smoking. And that’s a pretty strong argument to remove theirs and yours.
5. More conversation. As a married couple, some of your most important, intimate conversations will take place in your bedroom during the waning hours of the day… unless of course, the television is on instead.
6. More/Better sex. Couples who keep a TV in the bedroom have sex half as often as those who don’t. Probably because there are over a million things more stimulating than a man watching ESPN SportsCenter. And if you ask me, that should be reason enough…
7. Less clutter. Your television takes up space (even when hidden). And I haven’t met anybody who actually enjoys more clutter in their homes.
8. Less advertisements at your weakest. Studies reveal what we already know to be true: Consumers are more susceptible to advertisements when they are tired. Depletion leads us to feel as if we’ve been more thorough and thoughtful in our processing and therefore, we become more certain in our attitudes.
9. Realistic expectations on your marriage. In almost all regards, television rarely depicts the world and life accurately. As a result, too much television results in disillusionment about what to expect from the world around us. This can be most detrimental to our relationships when the unrealistic expectations are applied to our marriage, family, love, romance, and sexuality.
10. Rooms serve purposes. Kitchens are for cooking… Dining Rooms are for eating… Toy Rooms are for playing… Offices are for working… Rooms serve purposes. The better we define those rooms and their purposes, the more productive they become. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex by taking work materials, computers, and televisions out of the sleeping environment.
11. Televisions attract dust. All electronics attract and trap dust… something about static electricity. While I don’t understand the physics, I see the result. And isn’t there enough dust already in your bedroom… why would you want to attract more?
12. Get ready faster. Having the television on while getting ready in the morning adds extra time to the process. And who wants to spend more time getting ready?
13. More reading. Light reading in the evening helps many fall asleep faster. But even if it doesn’t help you sleep, the benefits of reading still far outweigh the benefits of television. Removing the television from your bedroom will almost always encourage more reading in your life.
14. Going to sleep together. While some couples have successfully navigated the television schedule and actually go to sleep together (We watch the King of Queens every night and then fall asleep), we never could. Perhaps we’re less disciplined… but more likely, she liked watching TLC far more than I did. Removing the television helps foster intimacy by not just going to bed at the same time, but by falling asleep at the same time as well.
15. Less electricity/energy use. Household electronics continue to use energy and electricity even when powered off. It’s called standby-power and it amounts to 5-10% of your total electricity bill. One less television means one less financial drain on your checkbook.
16. Your attention is far too valuable. There are very important people in your life who need your attention every single day. Removing the television from your bedroom will help you give it to the people who need it the most.
17. Masking problems in your marriage. When two imperfect people come together to form an intimate union that shares everything, there are bound to be some problems along the way. Successful couples notice them, discuss them, and find compromise that makes both sides better. Unsuccessful couples don’t. Our marriages require us to be intentional and thoughtful. And that rarely happens when the television is on.
18. Watch less television. Inherent in each of these reasons above is the reality that removing the television from your bedroom means that you will watch less television. And there are all sorts of good reasons for that: 11 Reasons to Ditch Your Television, 10 Reasons to Watch Less Television.
If words on a page aren’t quite enough for you or your partner, commit to try it out as a 30 day experimentation. Unplugging the television and moving it into a different room will take less than 3 minutes. There is an end in sight. You’ve got nothing to lose. And maybe, just maybe, a whole lot to gain.
Again, I’m not saying you have to remove the television from your bedroom. I’m just saying your life will be better if you do.
Brad Fennell says
I have never had and never will have a TV in the bedroom, for some reason I have always felt strongly about this. The bedroom my be our last safe haven. Thanks for the post.
monicca adrone says
this blog is a blessing to the married especially women. TV has destroyed some families in Africa given the entertainment of soap operas, local drammas that are telecasted and glue women on them, who forget to do even their household chores to an extent of burning food that their husbands and children are to eat. if these ideas are read by some married women especially in my country would really save many couples from breaking up.
rollo says
So I have read your article and must say I like it and am in tune with yo. My gf however isn’t and we are getting into arguments over it. I don’t want a TV in the and she does. I don’t know how to explain it to her and make my point about. what can I do?
Frank | Modern Monkey Mind says
I don’t own a tv or a cable subscription, and cancelled my Netflix account a couple weeks ago. Honestly, I don’t miss it. I still watch some educational/documentary/infotainment stuff on youtube (Vlogbrothers, scishow, and Buddha at the Gas-Pump are favorites) but I find myself watching online video less and less. There’s just so much else to do!
Mindy says
I used to think that people who didn’t have a tv were an odd fringe of society. If that is true, I am now one of them. :) I used to always have the TV on for background noise. More recently I kept the TV off for two weeks to see how things would go…it was rough at first, but then I got to the point where I couldn’t stand having it on. Well I completely disconnected my cable a couple days ago and just taking that action makes me feel lighter!! I know I could watch some episodes online if I want, but that doesn’t really even appeal to me. Ahhhhhh. I think I finally got it!
Thales says
I dont watch tv for years.
news and notices around the world i have from feeds or websites.
my wife se at least 1h of tv per day ( fav. tv shows ) mostly we share some seasons, but we are not addicted to tv.
My problem is the computer =(
i would love to trash that thing thru the window.
Frank | Modern Monkey Mind says
Thales, I’m the same way. I watch maybe two hours of TV (usually a movie, actually) a week. My problem is the internet and online video, much like you. I’ve found the following article by Leo to be extremely helpful: http://zenhabits.net/offline/.
Thales says
Hi Frank,
Exact same situation.
i’ll check the article! thanks a lot for sharing.
Frank | Modern Monkey Mind says
You’re welcome! We’re all in this together after all. :)
Frank|Modern Monkey Mind says
I think a lot of this holds true for screens in general. I’ve found that nights when I turn my computer off in the late afternoon (I don’t have a TV at all) I sleep better, and wake up naturally earlier than days when I’ve sat in front of the laptop right up until shortly before bed. Because of this I set my computer to shut down at 6pm a while back and have slept immeasurably better since.
Robin says
I have wanted to get rid of my bedroom TV for a long time! I am single and really want to read more and sleep better. I’ve had one in there for many, many years for “company” cuz I din’t love too much quiet. But, I want it out! How do I go about Selling it? It’s a big flat screen and is a nice one. I would sell the wall bracket and never-used DVD/VCR player with it. Don’t want weirdos from Craigslist coming to my house. How should I go about this? Anyone know an easy way?
Larry says
Sorry, I have a tv in my room and had one when I was a child all through my marriage when I was and the tv was not a distraction to us at. We still things a family all the time. I didn’t have to watch tv all the time but it was there if I do. I’m not all into espn and all that so we won’t go there. Love making was still there and during doing that the tv was never on. Sorry but my tv stays !!!
Islem says
We do have a TV in the bedroom, but ever since we removed cable in 2005, we’ve all become bookworms and talkers and have neglected the TV big time. Now its 15″ screen is just there staring at us, unplugged (probably the reason that this one does not attract dust). It’s small, flat and stuck to the wall, so it wasn’t bothering us really, clutter-wise. But now, it’s time for it go! I wan’t my wall space back. So is the one in the living room. My son, 17, isn’t interested on TV AT ALL. No video games either. He uses his PlayStation 2 (a gift from family) to watch rented or borrowed DVDs, but very rarely. This one is the traditional 19″ TV from early ’90s and it collects a TON of dust and hogs up tons of space. In fact, the entire media cabinet with radio system, tapes, CDs and all, going out the door. The media cabinet is worth a lot of $$. So we’ll be selling that.
Gosh, that feels good!!