give up tv

I am returning books that I borrowed years ago and never read. I’ve read them. I am no longer sad about being alone probably bc I’m not watching all those fake relationships on TV. My life has less drama. I am accomplishing more with my evenings and when the urge overcomes me. I watch a DVD or watch something on the internet. Short and sweet and over in an hour sans commercials. I don’t know what the newest junk food is or if stepping out of the tub will kill me. I don’t know what Brittany Spears is up or the latest new handbag or the must have item for spring. I don’t care either. I’m happier. I’m getting art done. My life is organized the way I want it for a change.

After 5 years of arguing with the TV, trying to turn it off, waiting for the HD switch on February 17 to make me turn it off, I surrendered. I realized that I had to make the change. I woke up this morning and put the TV in a box in the garage. This has been a fruitful morning even with the radio on. It doesn’t suck me in as much. I will leave it in the garage, kinda of like putting the cookies on a high shelf so I forget about them. I feel somehow liberated.

...about NOT using my converter box coupons when I get them. This wouldn’t eliminate the temptation that comes with online streaming TV (my usual mode), but it would eliminate the temptation to watch whatever’s on…since my crappy little TV would no longer work for broadcast television.

The latest season of Dexter is over. I thought about watching Heroes when I get home tonight, but decided against it.

Why? Because I have books to read that I’m more excited about.

Not gonna block Hulu b/c I like having access to the full-length films now and then.

As with most of the bad habits I’ve broken over the years – I think the necessary key is to replace it with something much more compelling.

I’m attached to watching The Daily Show in the mornings. That one I feel like I can justify. It’s only 20 minutes (less if the interview is a dumb one; then I just don’t watch it).

Started catching up with a show I was mildly attached to tonight…then stopped. Closed it out. Done with it.

I think the key is to be aware of how I feel while watching, and to keep asking myself the question “am I enjoying this? Is this what I want to be doing?”

I suspect the answer is “no” more often than not.

I’ve become an addict. I know because I actually feel anxiety when contemplating this goal. Which is screwed up.

I don’t watch hours of TV a day and I don’t generally flip around (don’t have cable). I just have many programs that I’ve grown attached to. Most of these I watch via online video streaming. I have relationships with the characters that I long to maintain. It’s not so much that TV is 100% crap, or commercial-ridden – I watch it in forms with few commercials, and most of the shows have at least some redeeming qualities in terms of writing or acting.

The real problem is that TV watching is replacing more constructive outlets, and providing me with the illusion of human contact, to the point that I choose it instead of socializing. NOT GOOD.

Plus, I suspect it’s making me dumber.

I don’t wanna do it anymore.

That said, I’m not willing to go cold turkey.

I am going to finish this season of Dexter (one episode left). And I’m going to allow myself to watch the final seaon of Battlestar Galactica.

Everything else goes, including the episode of House I was planning to watch tonight. Buh-bye, House.

And I’m blocking Hulu in my Firefox asap.

this went well for six weeks. then i got sick, watched a lot of TV on the couch and have not gone back. not sure if i need to. i can see the value in it but i can’t seem to get back on track.

There’s nothing wrong with tv in moderation. Sometimes I just don’t feel like reading or going to the gym. Especially when it’s cold and raining and I’ve just returned home from work – I just want to sit around someplace warm, relax, and be entertained without having to do anyhing. I set my TV back up today.

so i am doing great with the no TV thing!
however, i have easily replaced at least some of my tv time with internet time. overall, the deal is that i am using these things as a way of numbing myself when i feel too tired to work.

It is really cool because I am not even three weeks into my “no TV” adventure and it is just so easy! I have allowed myself to watch one or two shows a week (in the evenings only – no more TV on the couch during the day for this girl!!!) . . . but I am noticing that it has to really be good for me to bother with it. Otherwise, I just don’t see the need to spend my time that way.

(Now, let’s see what happens when I don’t have my 1,000 page book to read – almost finished with it!!!)