Turning on the TV is often a great way to relax and take your mind off the day, but there are many benefits to avoiding TV I’d like to share with you. TV isn’t the root of all evil and some of it can actually be quite helpful or informative, like the news and certain educational programs. However, when you take the TV out of your life, you’ll be surprised how many other things you find time for that you enjoy doing. Consider some of these benefits of avoiding TV and turn off the tube a little earlier tonight!
One of the main benefits of avoiding TV is pretty obvious- it gives you more time with your loved ones! Communicating with your loved ones is one of the best things you can do for your health and happiness, so play a game together or sit and chat at the dinner table instead of eating in front of the TV.
I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t get my most creative ideas from watching a TV show. Cutting off the television might be a great way to spark your creativity for hobbies, special projects around the house, or even ideas that might benefit your career.
Not only is it easy to stay up way past your bedtime watching TV, but turning off the bright light from your TV screen can also help you sleep better. Even watching TV during the day can offset your melatonin levels and disrupt your sleep cycle.
You burn very little calories sitting on the sofa watching TV, so get up and do something instead! Organize something, play outside, go for a walk, spend time with your dog, or cook a healthy meal. You’ll burn more calories and have a speedier metabolism as a result. Easy, right?
Have you ever noticed how many food commercials you see during only 30 minutes of television? This makes you hungrier, which is pretty much the idea. If you can’t quit snacking in front of the TV, it’s not just your fault! Watching less TV is an easy way to put you back in touch with your natural hunger signals.
Watching TV puts you out of touch with your life and can even lead to depression. TV tends to “zone you out,” which can create an addictive cycle as a way to deal with life. Instead of turning on the TV, talk things out with someone or spend time outside as a way to release emotional distress.
It takes very little knowledge to watch a television show, and yes, that even includes Jeopardy. However, reading a book, writing a list of some sort, organizing, or doing a puzzle stimulates motor sensory skills in your brain that increases your knowledge fairly quickly. Sure, Jeopardy might be a better option than reality TV, but the real-life approach is always the best option!
Avoiding TV might seem boring or even hard at first, but you’ll be surprised at how much happier you’ll be as a result. There are a million things to do, so turn off the TV and get started today! Can you list a personal benefit you’ve experienced from avoiding TV?