I realize this might be a bizarre question to ask other people. But rather than chucking my TV and rearranging my studio apartment, thought I’d start by asking here. Maybe some of you have already made the change and have thoughts to share.
Some context: I’ve noticed myself binging shows or YouTube in the last year, especially after work. In reality, I’ve been watching more TV over the last 5 to 6 years (27 now).
On one hand, I enjoy it. Good TV feels a like art and I always enjoy a good stand-up special. It probably also gives my brain time to tune out and decompress. On the other hand, it feels like an easy way to fill boredom. I think I would write more, explore the city more, and so on without a TV to retreat to at the end of the day. Kind of like leaving junk food out of the house to eat healthier.
Maybe not having a TV wouldn’t make a difference after a few weeks with laptops and phones.
Tldr: thinking about getting rid of my TV. Curious if others have done the same and how they felt afterwards.
11 comments
I consume most of my media on my computer, so my TVs go basically unused during the work week unless my gf is over, or there’s a sporting event I care about on.
I wouldn’t recommend it, no. But if you’re willing and you think it would do you good, then give it a shot.
Maybe try packing it away for a while before straight up getting rid of it. That way if you change your mind, you don’t have to buy a new one.
It was a different time (early/mid 1990s), different society, but I did without any TV in my apartment for about 2 years, and I think overall it wads a net positive.
Now, 30ish years later, the biggest downside is I lack **some** understanding of cultural references from that time period.
I only watch tv when I’m watching shows with the wife.
In general, our role is no TV in the bedroom. We have one TV in the living room. It’s probably 4 hours a week max for me.
I absolutely can do without and it saves you a bunch of money too.
Take a timeout for a month. Ah, why not unplug? And/or wrap the plug in tape? And/or give the remote control to a buddy? Else, if you end up buying a new one as a replacement, you’re the problem not the solution, to our planet’s pollution issues from over consumption.
Dropping your internet would be a bigger step imo.
Got a smartphone? That’s a rabbit hole surpassing all others imo.
https://comicskingdom.com/blondie/2023-01-04
You can probably achieve the same goal just by being more mindful of your television habits. Make plans in advance to do some of the things you listed and stick to them. If you are incapable of controlling or moderating yourself then it might make sense to get rid of it, otherwise it just seems unnecessary.
Life is all about finding your own joy
You don’t need to give away your TV to explore the city more or write more. And the truth is, if those things were things that you thought would make you happy, you’d be focused on them
TV helps you decompress at the end of a long day. You know this.
Do not throw away that resource until you have actually explored the city, written more, focused on working out etc etc and seen if those activities help you decompress after a long day too.
And don’t make changes based on other people’s opinions
Do what makes you happy
If coming home, turning on the TV, and zoning out for a while helps you get through the day, then so be it.
Not everyone is a writer
Not everyone is an explorer
Figure out the things that bring you joy and focus on those. But don’t just assume that TV is the reason you aren’t exploring other hobbies.
It may just be you don’t really have interest in those other things…but have convinced yourself that TV is the reason you are not doing them
>Maybe not having a TV wouldn’t make a difference after a few weeks with laptops and phones.
This. What you’re really looking for is the willpower to focus on things you find fulfilling rather than spending it all on easy, but unfulfilling entertainment.
Getting rid of your tv without building that mental discipline will just shift your activities away from your tv and onto your phone. Chances are that you’ll find your phone even less fulfilling than your TV so you’ll just be worse off.
Rather than getting rid of your tv, just hold onto it and avoid replacing it for as long as you can. When you do need to replace it, don’t buy an expensive model and just get a basic set. Try to limit yourself to one episode of content a day and spend the rest of your time doing something more rewarding. That’ll spread out your content, so you’ll get to enjoy it longer as a bonus.
As the saying goes, ‘start with the end in mind’. Getting rid of your physical TV in a world where more consumption is done on phone/tablet/computer might not actually help if your goal is less screen media consumption.
The ‘always be hustling’ culture is incredibly toxic … rest is absolutely essential. How you choose your downtime is important, as consuming media/games/whatever is not relaxing your brain either. Reading on a non-strenuous screen is better.
I don’t have a TV. People think it’s weird. I don’t think it’s weird. I won’t be pressured into a societal norm for wasting time. I still watch TV shows on my phone but I watch way less TV because it’s not as comfortable. I’m much more likely to read than watch a show.
Why are you asking though. Just unplug it for a few days and see if you want to keep it or get rid of it. This is a silly thread.
I tried getting off social media years ago. I just ended up getting addicted to mobile video games. The point was to be on my phone less but all I did was replace it with something else.
If you get rid of your TV, do you think you would end up just watching YouTube and such on your phone? If that’s possible, maybe just try not watching TV at all. If you can avoid going to it, and replace it with something better, then get rid of the TV later.