I have an unhealthy obsession with TV. There, I said it! I watch far more than my fair share. Only recently have I started shaving down my TV time to accommodate the heightened stress of parenting a young baby while also maintaining a full-time job and keeping up with all the tedious chores that come with homeownership. But even with all these commitments, I still manage to carve out enough time in my daily routine for at least one episode of a show per night.
I know, I know. Self-help gurus and productivity experts would cringe at this confession. They�d tell me that I�m letting my brain cells rot or that I could spend that valuable time on more worthy pursuits. And sure, they have a point�sometimes my hours in front of the television feel like hours wasted.
Yet I refuse to give it up entirely. Television offers me a chance to unwind in a way that is unrivalled by anything else. I could read (and I do read), but books require more mental engagement than the comparably passive activity of staring at a TV screen. There�s meditation and exercise and all kinds of other ways healthier people might tell me I could relax, but truly nothing would fill that gap in my heart quite like a juicy, binge-worthy show that I�ve just discovered.
And though there are obvious drawbacks to life as a couch potato, television also has unique benefits when consumed in moderation, such as language development for non-native speakers and an increased sense of social belonging. Plus, as a writer, I appreciate the opportunity to learn from storytelling techniques employed by my favorite shows.
For those of you still hung up on television�s impact on productivity, here are a few ways to address that issue without sacrificing your favorite shows:
Multitask with mundane chores while you watch.
Maybe it�s because I�m a product of the plugged-in generation, but sometimes I get excruciatingly bored folding laundry or chopping onions for dinner. When you have a task at hand that requires a little brainpower but a lot of minutes, pair it with a TV show to occupy your mind. And if you find that your chore actually demands more of your attention, you can always choose a show that can run in the background without requiring you to stay perfectly focused on it.
Get off the couch and work out during a show.
Another way you can multitask during TV time is by getting fit while you watch, thereby battling any guilt you might feel about not getting enough exercise. If you have a treadmill or exercise bike, position it in front of the television and get in some reps rather than sitting on the couch. Or you could turn the viewing experience into a game and devise a workout routine around your favorite show. If you love Game of Thrones, for example, do 10 jumping jacks whenever someone loses a limb.
Reduce your time spent watching by cutting commercials.
Online streaming services typically offer at least one commercial-free option�just another argument in favor of cutting cable. However, even if you want to keep your cable subscription, gadgets like DVR devices allow that same flexibility. Just record your shows and watch them later�if you can stand to wait until after they�ve aired. Watching with fewer commercials will reduce your viewing time, sometimes by around 15 minutes, and we all know how those minutes can add up.
Control your own schedule with online streaming services.
Similarly, if you use an online streaming service or a DVR, you can control when you watch rather than planning your life around the TV Guide. You can choose to churn out important work during your most productive hours and reserve your time on the couch for moments when you�d struggle to focus anyway.
The moral of the story? Watch more television!
Just kidding�I�m not here to persuade you that TV is the healthiest habit or a perfect way to spend your time. But with these tips you can start thinking strategically about your viewing habits to make your screen time more productive.
