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