| Looking for more time? Glance no further | | | | |
| than the TV. The latest research on | | | | - Log the habit. How do you stack up against |
| television viewing demonstrates that the | | | | the national averages? Only one way to |
| average American watches 1,669 hours of the | | | | really know, and that is to write down your |
| tube each year. That is about 70 days per | | | | TV time for one week. Is there a pattern? |
| year according to the Statistical Abstract of | | | | You may find that you are watching a lot more |
| the United States. | | | | than you realized. |
| | | | |
| That's right, 10 weeks per year; watching | | | | - Start with a "no-TV" night one or two |
| television. The study does not include all | | | | nights per week. No TV, zip, zilch. Go for a |
| the hours the TV is simply in the background | | | | walk, bring out some games to play with the |
| adding to the noise pollution. It's direct | | | | kids, or read a book. At first, you may see |
| viewing time. Mind numbing time watching | | | | a family of "zombies" as they wander |
| re-runs, reality TV and commercials. | | | | aimlessly unplugged from one activity to |
| | | | another. But you will be amazed how quickly |
| This is time you never get back. These are | | | | everyone adjusts to other activities. |
| hours that could be used to learn something | | | | |
| new, be with your kids, exercise and weight | | | | - Take a class. Any class. It can be one |
| train, give back to community, or read a | | | | that gives you additional skills to advance |
| book. For that matter, you could write a | | | | your career, or one that broadens your |
| book. It is hours for tennis, golf, travel, | | | | interests. A literature review, a foreign |
| hobbies and sports. Or here's an idea, time | | | | language or simply relaxing making pottery |
| to do something that makes you money. I | | | | will do more for you than watching folks with |
| never receive checks from the television | | | | minimal talent compete on American Idol. |
| stations for watching re-runs of MASH or | | | | |
| Seinfield. In fact, I rarely even remember | | | | - Organize a project. This can be with other |
| the next day anything I watched the night | | | | family members or by yourself. It can |
| before. | | | | include cooking, baking, household chores, |
| | | | working outside, building something, |
| TV has a hypnotic effect on people. A | | | | painting, crafts, quilting, etc. Think about |
| passive activity, it doesn't require any | | | | the best days you have. Chances are good |
| interaction or much thinking. It makes folks | | | | that they are days you were able to complete |
| feel lethargic, lazy and dull. I can't prove | | | | your 'to do' list. |
| it, but I think TV dumbs me down. When I | | | | |
| watch more than hour or so of TV, I lose my | | | | - Identify a replacement goal. What do you |
| momentum and drive. I don't feel like | | | | plan to do with all your "new" time? This is |
| starting projects or working on anything that | | | | a great opportunity to focus on something you |
| takes too much effort. All I feel like doing | | | | have been "meaning" to do but never had the |
| is watching more TV and maybe opening up a | | | | time to accomplish. It could be that garden |
| bag of chips, preferably with some dip to go | | | | or reading the classics. You may try that |
| with it. | | | | sailing class you have talked about for the |
| | | | last ten years. |
| Is watching TV all bad? Of course not. It | | | | |
| provides entertainment and a diversion. It | | | | Time is the most important non-renewable |
| can be an excellent way to relax a bit after | | | | resource we have. Don't lose a fifth of your |
| a busy day. But we aren't reaching 10 weeks | | | | life doing nothing. |
| per year with just a little viewing. The TV | | | | |
| habit can interfere with living a life. So | | | | Copyright 2005 by Barbara Bartlein. All |
| how do you wean off the tube? | | | | Rights Reserved. |