Television
Most people have a show or two that they like - maybe even six or seven or many more that they like! Liking entertainment and TV is not a problem in and of itself. However, it is pretty common for people to use TV like a numbing agent. Instead of thinking over what they actually need and want in the moment, they plonk down on the couch and assume the zombie position.
Next time you feel yourself drawn to the TV, ask yourself, what do you really want?
- Want to laugh? Then don't just channel surf, pick something you know that is hilarious to you - whether that's Brian Regan, Louis CK, Modern Family, or Ren and Stimpy. Pick a program that gets you laughing.
- Want to "relax"? Well, let's talk about what "relaxing" means to you. I hear that word thrown around all the time - it's a buzz word and a lot of people don't really know what aspect of "relaxing" they are trying to achieve.
- Do you mean you want to quiet your mind? Try some of these activities which might quiet your mental chatter down better than the TV
- Meditation
- Giving yourself a massage
- Mindfulness exercises using a sensory object like a scented candle
- Stretching
- Exercising
- The TV is only putting MORE information IN - which will not quiet down your mind. It simply will not work beyond the time when your eyes are glued to the screen.
- Do you mean you want to physically relax your muscles?
- Massage
- Exercise
- Stretch
- Warm bath or shower
- The TV will not physically relax your muscles - it just won't.
- Do you mean you just don't want to be working?
- Cook a nice dinner
- Go out to dinner
- Get involved with a creative project - draw, paint, dance, sing, make music
- Take a walk
- What else might you want from the TV? Want to smile? What makes you smile? Is it stories about families? Documentaries about animals? It's possible that some of the activities below might get you more of a long-lasting smile...
- Call a family member - an aunt, uncle, grandparent with whom you haven't connected in a while
- Call a close friend
- Go get coffee with an acquaintance to get to know them better
- Bake something for co-workers or friends
- Spend time with your own or a neighbor's pet
- Want some excitement?!?!?! Go on and pick a program that's exciting to you, but you can also factor in some of these activities to build more real exciting activities into your life
- Take some kind of risk. Try something new. Do any of these things sound risky to you?
- Public speaking? Take a class
- Meeting new people? Find something on meetup.com
- Outdoor adventures? Find a local hike to do, sign up for a windsurfing class
- Creating? Take an art class - learn to throw clay or draw
- Dress like you're someone exciting - do some of your favorite characters dress in a way that seems exciting, interesting, unique? Do that yourself! Make a new combination out of clothes you already have.
- Want to connect with family members or your partner?
- Ask them how their day was - ask about their hopes and dreams and goals
- Play a board game
- Plan a trip together
- Physically connect!
Take a look this week at how you're using the TV. If you're using it for some of the above reasons... think about substituting. The TV can be a good for certain forms of entertainment, but it isn't likely to bring much substance and quality to your life. This doesn't mean you need to throw the TV out the window, but start trying to add in some of the above activities and notice how it affects your mood and overall health.
Feel more, do less. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment