It really helps when there’s nothing on that I want to watch. Rather than channel surfing, I just turn off the TV.

I’ve managed to get out of the habit of turning the TV on by default when I get home from work. I’d rather now put on some music and sit down with a book (or the kindle) and read.

Also being able to store up TV from the summer on the HDD recorder (or on the computer) so that I only watch what I want to watch helps massively. Watching documentaries and stuff that is educational.

Although the occasional film sneaks in, I tend to find because I’m outdoors more, I’m going to bed earlier, and I’ve disconnected the TV and Satellite box in the bedroom.

EDIT – I should add – I’ve started blocking quite a lot of the inane childrens channels on the satellite box in our lounge, which actually is having the desired effect. The eldest daughter seems to be reading much more, the youngest playing out much more. And TV is slowly stopping being the centre of our life. 7 months ago