I have drawn the line in the sand on some of the shows I used to watch. I’ve started watching some shows recorded so I can cut out commercials easily. And, I’ve cut out tv while I should be sleeping and only using it as a last resort. 7 years ago

to try to get out of the habit of using the tv to go to sleep, stay asleep from when I was sick. Last night, I set the sleep timer, and didn’t wake up until my alarm went off this morning! :) I’ll begin tapering it down. By Friday, I should be down to zero tv while trying to sleep. Then, I’ll use non-tv forms of sleep assistance. This goal should be done by next Thursday if I stay on-track. I’ll log my progress here.

Mon: 2 hour sleep timer used
Tues: sleep timer not even set, fell asleep before I was able to set it…woke up about 30 minutes later and turned tv off myself, and quickly went back to sleep.
Wed: 1.5 sleep timer used, I think.
Thurs: 1 hour sleep timer used
Fri: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep
Sat: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep
Sun: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep
Mon: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep
Tue: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep
Wed: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep
Thur: 0 tv while trying to get to sleep initially…after 1 hour of tossing and turning, I turned it on and it did finally put me to sleep. 7 years ago

abounds on the weekends! Thank goodness for recorded tv! 7 years ago

finally! Having set criteria has really aided in this process. So, now what I’m going to focus on is, after I get over being sick, getting back into the habit of listening to music or my sound machine to help me sleep instead of tv. When I am able to do that for a week, then I’ll declare this goal accomplished! :D 7 years ago

24 (2,3,4)
Larry King Live (2,3) 7 years ago

I’ve watched more news today, but I attempted to watch a movie today, and it was interesting, but it just wasn’t fast-paced enough for me. So, I quit watching it because I couldn’t justify it. It’s really sad to me that out of literally 99 channels (in my room or the 150 in the living room) I can’t find one thing I can justify to watch sometimes. I’m starting to realize I watch tv out of boredom sometimes. 7 years ago

I watched tv because I couldn’t sleep, otherwise it would have been a tv-free day.

CSI (2,3,4)
CNN or FoxNews (2,3)
FoodTV programming (2,3,4) 7 years ago

To recap my definition-
I’m going to start answering these questions to evaluate whether a show is pointless:

1. Is this something that brings me a greater sense of spirituality?
2. Is this something that brings me increased education?
3. Is this something that brings me a sense of true joy and not superficial entertainment?
4. Is this something that brings me increased artistic inspiration?

If I can’t answer yes to at least two of those, then it’s pointless.

What will it look like if I’m successful at this?-
I will not be letting tv viewing affect other goals (such as my bedtime goal, et al) or watch stuff that qualifies as pointless in the above definition.

How can I measure this?-
I will begin tracking this by listing the shows I watch each day, and my justification for watching them based on the definitions above. 7 years ago

I like tv too much. So, I’m going to rephrase the goal from “Watch less television” to “Watch less pointless television.” This should actually be attainable.

1. Is this something that brings me a greater sense of spirituality?
2. Is this something that brings me increased education?
3. Is this something that brings me a sense of true joy and not superficial entertainment?
4. Is this something that brings me increased artistic inspiration?

If I can’t answer yes to at least two of those, then it’s pointless. 7 years ago

but watching all these 24 episodes may indeed help me with this goal. I’ve never enjoyed a television show so much in all of my life! Literally since I’ve picked up this show, I don’t watch some of the others I used to, and now I may not go back to watching them at all. Other shows seem kind of boring now. I haven’t watched Desperate Housewives in weeks now and it used to be my favorite show on tv.

I’m excited that this goal is progressing! :) 7 years ago

the past few days. Something that I’m trying to implement to guide me in the decision to watch a tv show is answering the question, “Does this give me a lot of entertainment-value, educational-value, or spiritual-value?” I’ve begun doing this lately with a few shows. If I cannot answer yes in at least one of those areas, then I’m trying to tell myself I don’t need to watch it. 7 years ago

“I’m failing miserably” at this goal. I like tv, probably too much. I’m considering the “give up” option as either a temporary or permanent measure. I’m open to commentary, though. 7 years ago

I’m implementing your suggestion of covering the tv that is in the room I’m staying in with a throw blanket this week. I’ll let you know how it goes. :) 7 years ago

I’m not doing all that well in the tv department…I’ve got further challenges now. Not only does where I’m moving have a tv in my bedroom…it’s got cable! (like about 60+ channels)
^{Help, sara, help!}7 years ago

Last week I was still struggling with having the tv on and not being in the same room, therefore I wasn’t technically watching it. However this is not what my goal is about. It’s about minimizing tv’s influence in my life. Since this is the case, I’m going to record the amount of time my tv is actually on and how much I actively watch.

Su: 2:30/1:00
M: way too many/<1:00
T: way too many/2:30
W: too many/2:30
R: a lot/1:30
F:
Sa: 7 years ago

Last week was hard on me with as much limitation as I put on myself. I don’t know if I should use my “give up” option on this one or not, but it is still early in the game, and I try to be one who doesn’t give up on things. I haven’t done the VCR stuff yet, so that will be something that must be accomplished by the end of tomorrow. I am not going to impose a limitation for this week of amount I can/cannot watch, I’m just interested in how much I will watch. I’ll record the time and number of shows each day. So as to avoid “mindless” tv time, I will have one rule this week: Any tv watched has to be something I’m genuinely interested in. It cannot be on for background noise.

Su: 2 shows, 2:00
M: 1 show, 1:00
T: 5 shows, 3:30
W: 2 shows, 2:00
R: 3 shows, 2:30
F: oops, I really don’t remember now!
Sa: No tv 7 years ago

My jumpstart proved beneficial at taking my focus off tv, even if it did depress me just a tiny, tiny bit. I honestly don’t feel like I’ve missed much.

This week’s rule is I can watch up to two shows a day. After this is done, I will see how things are going and make further plans. Also, I will log what shows I’ve watched, just for a little extra motivation.

Tasks to be done to help with this goal:
1. Reconnect VCR with tv.
2. Locate blank tapes.
3. Pre-program VCR to automatically tape shows.

Log:
Su: None, because of unforeseen circumstances! :(
M: None, nothing interesting to me is on.
T: Commander-in-Chief, Boston Legal
W: forgot about watching tv and missed Lost! :( So, no tv watched.
R: Primetime Live, Local Newscast at 10
F: GMA, Regis & Kelly
Sa: Wheel of Fortune, Local Newscast at 10 7 years ago

Someone asked me how much tv I watched a day, and I really had to think about how to answer “them.” Once I did some quick math on paper and saw the numbers, I am convinced this is a goal I need in my life! My eyes nearly popped out of my head, I think. So, I am going to do a “quick start” for this goal. (I did one for my healthy eating goal by being vegetarian for a week to break me into consciousness about what I was eating.) So, for the rest of this week I commit that I will not watch any tv. [Not even the news! :(] Then, starting Sunday, I can watch up to two shows a day for that week. At the end of that week, I’ll re-evaluate this goal. 7 years ago

My television is moved! :D And, right now it’s not even plugged in, so I’m not watching/listening to it. More to come on this goal later today or tomorrow, too. 7 years ago

haven’t moved my tv out, but I haven’t watched a single minute of it today! :) [very unique for a Saturday!] 7 years ago

I think I need to get that tv moved TONIGHT!!! I don’t want to get rid of my tv…but I will be helped out with this goal…ABC has A LOT of football on this coming week, it looks like. (ABC is one of the two channels I get…the other is public tv) If that doesn’t work you may have to come kidnap my tv from me.

(going away thinking to myself, “This may be a harder fought battle than ‘sleep regularly’ and ‘get more sleep’ combined!”) 7 years ago

I am trying to figure out what is reasonable. The awful thing is that I only get 2 channels of tv, and I still watch a lot of tv. I am a news junkie and like several other shows. So, I could literally watch tv almost half the time. I think I have it on for noise most of the time, but I do find that it distracts me from doing other things. And I’ve added a couple of shows to my list of favorites in the past couple of weeks, too.

I will say that the purpose of this goal is to allow me to focus my energies elsewhere, and not waste time watching any additional television at this point. Ideally, I’ll be more selective about what I do watch, and pare it down a bit.

So, I’m open to your comments. I’ll consider them with an open mind. 7 years ago

While on hiatus, I did not watch any tv. And I realize how much I do watch sometimes, now. TV isn’t evil by my standards, but as with anything there needs to be balance. I was talking with a friend several days ago who doesn’t watch much television—especially reality television. I like some of it, but could be more selective. I don’t watch as much as I once did, but I want to make sure it stays reasonable and doesn’t interfere with other goals. While doing my sleep regularly goal I did find that it interfered with getting quality sleep.

I usually have in mind a certain structure for goals this specific, but I’m going to have to “play this one by ear.”7 years ago