Life change can be hard, really hard. There is a reason we make resolutions every January 1. We desire to grow and improve and live life to the fullest, but getting there takes discipline and work and effort. Too often, we fall short of the desired change we desire to embrace.
But there is one change available to us that is as significant and beneficial as any of the others. The decision and implementation are really not that difficult. In fact, almost everyone I have ever met that made the change recommends it.
Watch less television.
Consider the negative effects of television on our lives and the consequences of allowing too much screen time for kids.
It is bad for our health. Numerous studies draw direct parallels between excessive television watching, obesity, and poor eating habits. But we don’t need studies to tell us we eat less healthy when watching television. We already know that.
It distracts us from the real people in our lives. The characters on television are not real. They are thought up in an office building and given life on a piece of paper. In contrast, you are surrounded everyday by real people living real lives. They need you. And you need them.
It influences our spending habits. Corporations do not spend trillions of dollars in advertising hoping to influence you. They spend trillions of dollars because they know, eventually, they will gain some control over your spending.
It costs us money. We spend money to power our television sets. Add in the cost of cable/satellite bills, dvd’s, Internet channel subscriptions, movie subscriptions, peripherals … and we’re starting to talk about real money.
It, literally, causes us less satisfaction with life. According to the Journal of Economic Psychology, TV viewers report lower life satisfaction, higher material aspirations, and more anxiety.
It results in less intimacy with your spouse. Couples who keep a TV in the bedroom have sex half as often as those who don’t.
And those are only the ones we are aware of. When we consider how television influences our worldview, impacts our kids, changes our mood, and demands our mental energy, the downsides of too much television make an almost airtight case to watch less of it.
But statistics say we watch television nearly 40 hours per week. 40 hours! That is 2,000 hours we could have spent last year doing anything else, experiencing any other positive habit: learning, reading, growing, contributing, or pursuing a dream.
When I decided to watch less television years ago, I was immediately forced to fill my evenings with something else. We spent more time together as a family. We spent more time outdoors. I began to write more. I decided to visit the gym in the evening. I took more control over my life and my decisions. These are all good things—healthy habits—and cutting out television provided opportunity for me to accomplish them.
Not only are the negative effects of TV detrimental to our lives, the opportunity cost is great. There are just better, more life-fulfilling things we could be doing with our evenings and weekends.
If you agree, here are some helpful tips to reduce your personal television watching habits.
1. Begin with the decision. Most of the healthy habits that emerge in our lives are the result of an intentional decision. If you agree that your life may improve with this simple change, embrace it. If you don’t think it will improve your life, review the above list again.
2. Less can be different than none. Put down your defenses. I’m advocating less, not none. I realize some TV can be educational and entertainment is not necessarily an exercise in futility. We still have one TV in our house that I watch occasionally. But I do watch far less… and maybe you should too.
3. Limit the number of televisions in your home. One of our first steps in reducing clutter in our home was to take the TV out of the kitchen. As an unexpected result, I began to discover how much I enjoyed cooking. And removing the TV out of our bedroom reminded me how much I enjoyed…
4. Find a good season to start. While this habit could be incorporated at any time, nice weather outside (or a busy season) provides a natural opportunity to enact a change—especially if you have family to get onboard.
5. If necessary, go it alone. Speaking of family, just because you are personally feeling challenged in this area does not mean they are too. That’s okay. Make the change in your own life first. Become the change you would like to see in your family.
6. Be intentional about planning something else. Go for a walk. Find a book. Join a club. Or pick up a new hobby. Intentionally picking something else to do will keep the temptation to a minimum.
7. Try to eliminate specific shows. It may seem easier to make sweeping generalities such as, “I’ll stop watching TV on Thursday nights,” “I’ll turn off the TV at 10pm,” or “I’ll cut out all reality shows.” But for us, at first, it was easier to pick some specific shows that we could easily live without. When we started to experience the benefits of living life rather than watching it, it was suddenly easier to cut out even more.
8. Know it gets even easier over time. Television is a self-propagating habit. It promotes its own self-interests by boldly declaring the Best New Show, Most Watched Network, Can’t Miss Episode, or Game of the Year. They play on our fear of missing out. But as you commit to watching less, you are less persuaded by these claims because you see them less. Quickly you will realize you aren’t really missing that much anyway.
Life change can be hard. But some decisions have a greater beneficial impact than others. And watching less television just may be your quickest shortcut to better living right away—it only takes the decision to hit the Power-Off button.
About Joshua Becker
I have given this some thought lately. We have 150 +/- channels and there is so little I want to watch yet we mindlessly watch anyway. Sports do interest me though so there’s that. I have considered getting rid of the cable and just keep a few select streaming services. I like the idea of cutting back to see how that works instead of just cold turkey.
My roommates are moving out with their TV in a week. I’m considering if I want to get a smaller one, which would be less tempting to watch and would be less prominent in the room, or just going without.
Another option is to get a projector for movie/Netflix nights, and put it away when it’s not in use! Then it becomes a conscious choice to watch a show or movie (and only at night when it’s dark), rather than automatic. Plus, we could use it for outdoor movie nights in the summer.
But really, my challenge is that I spend way too much time on my laptop. I think I’m going to go put it away for a bit.
Yes, this is really true – as well as limiting time on internet. Most television and cable shows now are not edifying for the mind anyway.
I don’t have cable and I try to be mindful of the hours I watch TV (streaming), but I often think people who let us know they don’t watch TV are often arrogant and not very fun to be around. I think it’s OK to enjoy shows with great writing. Laughter is good as well. Judgement of others makes for some not so great company in my life.
One TV, we watch b&w comedy/family show on disc when terrible weather hits, its soothing for young and old; thus proven that we are being long distance visually programmed (tele/vision/ program)
I’m 66 and haven’t lived with a TV since leaving home in 1968. I’ve noticed two downsides–crossword puzzles refer to TV programs, and folks who have TVs think that recounting what happened on their program qualifies as conversation. Not so.
My husband and I do not have t.v. since I gave birth to our daughter. It’s been 20 months already.
Started watching less TV last summer when we ditched cable once and for all. Best decision ever!
We learned from your blog that creating is so much more fulfilling than consuming. It’s completely true and it’s changed our lives.
We have become obsessed with running our blog. It’s an amazing creative outlet. It’s wonderful to be able to help others with their finances.
Thanks! Awesome article once again.
When I was a kid we only had one TV. My brother and I fought over what to watch all the time. One day my dad made the rule that we could only watch 2 hours of TV a week. Best thing that could have happened. I never watch TV anymore. There are too many other things to do.
Last TV show I watched was LA Law summer of 1992. Don’t miss it at all. I’m enjoying my life & don’t have time for TV; way too much other stuff going on. No, I am not ever bored. Nor do I have two heads. Not sure if I am sane or not. Life without drama divas, talking heads & biased news is quite calm. The network-free lifestyle works for me. I am enjoying my quiet centered life.
I’ve always hated walking into people’s houses and seeing the TV get the “position of honor” in the living room. I feel books and seating space for PEOPLE should be the focus of the main room in your house! We have one medium-sized TV in our house (no kids) and it’s in our bedroom. That’s it and that’s more than enough. The rest of the time we read, work in our home offices or on the job, etc. TV should be a few hours of fun a week, not a full-time job (40 hours+).
Thanks Joshua,
May God provide us his guidance to achieve a good life. Aameen
I tape all the programmes I want to watch and then watch them when I have a spare moment. I started doing this because I was watching television all the time and even watching programmes I wasn’t interested in. I’ve found now that I don’t even watch all the programmes I’ve taped, as I’m too busy doing other things.
our toddler has recently killed two tvs so now we are only left with a very very small one…. maybe this is a good thing!
Does this also apply to watching TV shows on your computer? (via Netflix or downloaded), as well as internet browsing?
I made the decision years ago that if I watched TV I had to be exercising (treadmill, stationary bike or yoga) while doing so. (No exercise= No TV). I am now in much better shape, and watch much less TV than I used to. There aren’t that many shows that warrant running on the treadmill for an hour to watch!
Highly practical and useful article.
If only if test it out and see the efficacy for ourselves.
Thanks Joshua! Wish you good health and happiness from India!
*If only we test it out…
This has come at a great time. I decided last month to cut down what I watch, not cut it out totally. People are talking about some new shows, haven’t seen them so I don’t know what I’m missing if I’m missing anything at all. Next is cutting down computer time. I am rediscovering crafting, reading, cooking and hanging out with my husband.
Yes totally agree, also limiting “screen” time on computer and tablet, looking at them as “work” tools not waste time tools.
I got rid of cable when my daughter was born. At the time, it was a pure cost saving decision. The unintended consequences have been amazing – my daughter never really asks for “stuff”. I remember wanting so many things for Christmas and my birthday and she has rarely asked for something specific ever. We have Apple TV and Netflix so she gets some limited screen time but it is not a priority for her.
Its a brainwashing tool used to control people. Sounds ookey spooky, but its the simple truth.
This article should probably be about the Internet as much as it is about TV.
I agree, I am trying to reinstate my 10pm curfew for my computer and Internetting, so I can get to sleep at bedtime. Otherwise, I wake up and can’t get off to sleep and that affects the next day.
But how will I know who Negan killed?
I was thinking the same thing!!! I don’t watch tv during the day or most week nights… but Sunday evening is my night:))
We have a five month old daughter. I am amazed at how mesmerized she is by the TV. We don’t let her watch TV but even passing by it grabs her attention. I can’t help but believe that right now it’s just the lights and movement that she’s fixated on but to see something so dramatic at such a young age is startling. Before having her I would have the TV on for background noise. Now I see that it is exactly that most of the time. Noise that merely distracts me from better things.