stop watching reality tv

I’ve passed the three-month mark with this goal, so it’s time to check it off!

Honestly, I still don’t miss it that much and don’t often feel tempted to go back to the way things were.

Of course, I still have other time-wasting habits – and to be honest, new ones have developed since I quit watching reality TV. But at least I’ve conquered this one. And this had been a frequent activity for me for the last six years or so – so I’m pretty proud of how I’ve done with it.

This barely even tempts me anymore. I’m just waiting for my three months to be up – I can’t believe it hasn’t even been two yet, it feels like forever! – and I’m checking this goal off. No doubt. I just have way too many other things that I want to do (and that I actually feel good about wanting to do). I must finally be getting some sense in my old age….

(OK, I know I’m not old, but I’m turning 23 tomorrow and that number sounds very… well… threatening.)

I saw another commercial for the new version of The Mole today and it looks sadly trashy. It used to be so cerebral for a reality show—I loved that about it. But I guess they’ve skanked it up in the hopes of higher ratings. Now I don’t even want to watch it! (Well, not really badly, at least.)

I also keep seeing commercials for this new one called Wipeout, which seems to be solely about people going through obstacle courses and injuring themselves (presumably for money). This is disturbing, but it’s getting easier and easier not to watch reality TV.

The TV was on tonight when The Bachelorette came on and I turned it off without even looking at it. Definitely a sign that I’m doing well on this goal. And I still have not even touched The Mole. If I can stick with it for 55 more days, I get to check it off!

I just found out that after several years, ABC has made a new season of The Mole... one of my favorite reality shows ever… and it just started. With full episodes online. Great, just great.

I noticed that as soon as I saw the commercial for this, I started coming up with reasons for making an exception and watching it—it’s so much more intellectual than most shows, I could watch it with my family, etc. And then I realized that these excuses were just that. Excuses.

I’m not giving up on this goal! I will not watch it no matter how much I want to.

I’ve now made it through one month (and one day) of sticking with this goal!

It hasn’t actually been that difficult—not nearly as hard as staying off video games, which I’m happy to say I gave up for good more than a year ago. If I can do that, I can definitely do this. The only thing I “wish” I was watching, although I’m glad I’m not, is The Bachelorette. All the more time to enjoy my own real romance, not some other woman’s overwrought “fairy tale.”

And I’ve been really busy, which has helped a lot. It’s amazing how spending my time productively and taking care of business (instead of avoiding life) can actually kill my desire to waste time on unproductive things… I almost forget about them. Whoever came up with the old “idle hands” adage was so right.

I watched my last episode of The Bachelor yesterday… and despite how trashy I know that show is, I have to confess that as a hopeless romantic I totally loved the ending, in all its sappiness. It really is a testament to those editors that they manage to manipulate me and my little heart so utterly, considering that the couple has only known each other for six weeks and the guy’s been dating other women that whole time… not quite the most romantic scenario when you put it that way.

But since America’s Next Top Model has also just ended, I am now officially done with reality TV—in all its voyeuristic phoniness. Despite being tempted by the preview of The Bachelorette and desperately wanting to watch the next season of Top Model, I’m going to stand firm on this one. I don’t need to escape into other people’s lives… I need to focus on my own!

I’ve been sticking to my plan so far… all I’ve watched is The Bachelor and America’s Next Top Model. And now there’s only one episode of each left. I know I’ll probably be tempted to watch them again next season, but I’m standing firm on this one! Those days are over!

It’s a relief, actually, to know that after next week I’ll be totally done with watching reality shows. Fewer distractions… less escapism… more focus on my life instead of other people’s… I feel really good about it.

I’ve made this my current personal challenge. If I accomplish this goal (which I’ll consider done when I make it least three solid months without reality TV) by August 30, I succeed! If I fail, the next time I visit my parents I’ll have to dust and vacuum their house, which I really don’t want to do because at the moment, I don’t even dust and vacuum my own house regularly. (Although maybe I can start, with all the spare time I’ll free up by not watching reality TV.)

I’ve engaged in this form of time-wasting for a couple of years now, and it’s time to let it go. Lately, I’ve often found myself watching reality shows when I should be studying, working, pursuing my interests, spending time on friends and family, and doing all manner of other things that matter to me. It’s just another way of avoiding life, and it’s not acceptable to me anymore.

I’ve already stopped watching Survivor and Beauty and the Geek, which is good. I did watch The Bachelor this season, though, which is bad. Thankfully it’s only got one episode left, so I’ll watch that and then be done with it. My biggest challenge right now is to stop watching free episodes of past America’s Next Top Model seasons online. I’ll allow myself to finish watching the current season, but I need to resist the rest of the old seasons and definitely stay far, far away from the Australian and British versions, which are currently calling me.

Ultimately, my goal is to stop watching reality TV altogether. The only exception I’ll allow for is American Idol because I actually do see some value in that one, and my whole family enjoys it. The only other show I watch is Jeopardy!, so when I accomplish this goal, my TV consumption will be wonderfully minimal! I’ll consider the goal achieved if I can stick to it for three months consistently.