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.
Ashley says
We are about to get rid of cable for a while, :) We are moving back to a town where I have friends and family, so we can go to their places for the two shows we watch every new episode: The Walking Dead and Pretty Little Liars. Every other show, we are planning on using the money saved on cable charges to buy them in DVD form, preferably second hand. Criminal Minds, Friends, and Melissa and Joey mostly.
That’s my hubby’s and my problem with becoming typical minimalists: We love video games, tv shows, and books. We don’t spend a whole lot of time or money on things like clothes, jewelry, gym memberships, decorations, etc etc, but we are obsessed with
entertainment. We have 200 video games, 400 Dvds, and a couple bookshelves full of books that we can’t seem to part with.
Everything else has been easy to part with, and at least DVDs can go into CD binders to reduce clutter and stuff, :) that is my next goal.
Kesa says
But The Walking Dead and Pretty Little Liars are both on Netflix… and you don’t have to put anything on Netflix away…
David says
I have found leaving the tv in the bedroom and removing it from the front room allows you to relax watching a nice fire ,listening to light music maybe reading a book or just relaxing thinking about your day looking out the Window at the weather.
Sara says
We have one tv in our home which is only used for DVDs and not every day. We have no cable or satellite TV any more and I never miss it. I also got a new contract for my cell phone and removed internet/fb/email from my contract so it is only for texts and calls. I felt addicted to checking it, especially just before bed and in the morning and it felt so freeing to just take away the option. In relation to kindles etc, I can understand why people feel that giving away books and having a kindle is more minimalist. However, I LOVE books. I have given away/sold DVDs, CDs, clothes, kitchen stuff etc etc but have kept my old books. I did give a lot away but kept the classics and ones that really made me see the world differently. Now I don’t buy books, and I don’t have a Kindle, I just use the library! You can still read ‘real’ books but not spend money or get carried away. I want my children to grow up seeing books as tangible things. When my children are older, I think it will be valuable for them to see books on the shelves in our home and become familiar with them as well as continuing to use the library. Also, children’s books are so incredibly important, I could not give those away and will always buy them new ones for birthday and Christmas, using the library as a guide of what they enjoy. I’d much rather buy them a book than a toy.
I like to buy vintage furniture says
I really like this. Shabby Chic is certainly a type of Feng Shui, giving a peaceful,
soft and feminine feel. A very romantic way of decorating making people want to come in and relax, which is
why it can also be known as the cottage feel.
Anna says
I think this works for some people, and that’s great. For me, though, I need unwinding time in my own space away from everyone else in order to be able to sleep. I have a lot of anxiety, and the best thing I’ve found to deal with that (especially if I’m having a hectic week) is to take an hour or two a night to just watch a couple of my favorite shows (SYTYCD, Parks & Rec, Veep, etc). I can just let that brain of mine that has often been worked so hard during the day just sort of soften a bit. This relaxes me, allows me to let go of the day (because for me, it’s best to let myself forget about what I’ve been doing all day for a bit if I really want to learn anything) and prime my brain for sleep. Basically, it’s like a nice hot bath for my sore, overworked brain. Through trial and error, I have found than just about any other activity (reading, sex, exercise, walking up the stairs from my living room) that close to bedtime will put me into hyperactive think-mode and I won’t sleep at all (like, “at all” at all…I went 6 days without sleep in high school because I started reading before bed I was hallucinating by the end. Good times.). After my evening melt in front of the tv, I turn it off, turn my computer and lights off, lay down and close my eyes. Then my mind is able to slowly and calmly do the shut-down processing – what you might think of as meditation – needed, before I am able to get a good night’s sleep. In the morning, I rarely watch tv beyond getting the weather forecast (I hate morning television. So much screaming and bright colors for so early in the day).
While I’m sure removing the TV from the bedroom is a great idea for some people, for me it does not make my life better.
NOTE: A fireplace and stand-up record would be just as effective as a TV. I need soft, flickering lights and jokes to relieve the day’s stresses. I don’t have a fireplace in my bedroom, unfortunately.
DD says
I agree with you. Before I had a tv, it took me 45 minutes or more every night to fall asleep (starting from childhood). I can actually remember being awake for hours and having insomnia as a kid and I had no tv in my room. I had no idea how to stop thinking. The tv helps me turn off my brain and fall asleep in minutes. The sleep timer does wonders. I have never felt so rested.
Mike says
I had insomnia as a kid too. I’d lay there and count up to about 10,000, write poems in my head, etc, just couldn’t shut it off. But as a teenager I started researching it. I found that self-hypnosis techniques helped a lot! “You are getting very sleepy, your eyes are getting very heavy…”
Mike W. says
For the people who are kept awake because their spouse wants the TV on: google “tv ears”. There are wireless headphones that are easy to hook up to the TV. So your spouse can listen at any volume they want, and you don’t have to hear it.
tauqir khalid says
I agree with most observations in this post
Amazing how people from the far corners of the earth arrive at the same conclusions if they think logically.
Traci says
That is so true!! Very nice insight, and makes me realize how alike we are, once we realize what’s truly important in life. :)
www.cozzarellilawoffice.com says
What’s up, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this article. It was practical. Keep on posting!
Elaine says
About 6 years ago we got rid of our cable because so little of it was interesting. Now, 6 years later things have changed. I no longer want to live in a nice house. I no longer care or know what the latest fashion is. I don’t know who any celebrities are. I am no longer interested in what others deem to be the latest exciting, or terrible, or ominous things going on in the world. I don’t want to buy anything apart from food and neccessary clothing and needed household items. I don’t know what the latest diet trend is or what new restaurants are around. I don’t eat out. I don’t get upset or angry as I used to. I sleep like a log. I see a great deal of anger and angst in friends. I have books now, they are like real coffee and tv was like cheap instant or they are like a twelve course meal with a symphony orchestra playing and tv was a fast food value meal. I feel as if I had been drinking from a poisoned well. I’m better now. Sadly, people I know are still being poisoned and they have no idea. Even my breakfast has changed. I used to eat only foods that I saw in commercials- bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, cereal, etc. Now I eat what my body needs at the time. I’ve lost wieght. My furniture isn’t arranged like the ones in tv shows. I no longer think that I need anti-depressants or tranquilizers. I have conversations with people from generations ago through books. I’ve relearned history, the ones from tv was full of misinformation. I’ve relearned police procedures, law procedures, medical facts, all of the ones from tv were full of misinformation. I’ve stopped craving a bigger better social life. I’ve stopped trying to be all that I can be, just do it, get a life, be somebody, never stop improving. I’ve gotten away from cliches and vague philosophies. I’ve stopped thinking in black and white and have found a myriad of grey shades. I’ve realized that tv was the worst thing I ever put into my mind. I was conditioned with false realities. I don’t usually say any of these things to people because they quickly become angry since I have insulted thier god, their all.
Traci says
Thank-you for such a thoughtful, and insightful reply. I too feel the same, after years of living as I’m supposed to, I realize that it’s only stressing me, and it definitely was not making me happier, as I accumulated more and more. I’m now on an active mission to downsize…selling or giving away 3/4’s of my belongings, selling my house (that I have struggled to make payments on), and moving to a small and affordable apartment, reading much more, writing, painting…doing what makes ME happy vs. what society tells me to do. It’s wonderful, cathartic and refreshing, like finally finding a deep well after years of wandering in a desert. I’m so thankful to know that so many others feel the same, and that we have discovered the anti-materialism mindset is the secret to true joy and peace.
Audrey says
Elaine, this is very inspiring. I appreciate your thoughts.
Jeff says
Elaine,
I too thought this was very inspiring and refreshing. Good for you for committing to the downsize and defrag. Best of luck to you. I’m slowly but surely getting there.
Cheers!
Ted says
Your response is amazing and inspiring. Thank you.
marsha says
Loved your reply. Sadly it seems like just a limited number of us that feels this way; but it’s good to know we exist.
Yamsha says
I agree with this post but I think it’s an outdated problem, nowadays it’s the computer/tablet that is a problem.
Gio says
The article is all true. And I agree computers are a problem
and the phones smart tablets too, we seem to not be able to be unplugged… Not even while in the toilet :(
Adventurous Andrea says
I love this! The bedroom should be for two things. Well, three, if you include meditation!