How much time do you spend watching TV each week? Does that amount of time go down when you’re busy, or do other things get cut rather than TV?
Why do you watch TV – is it for relaxation, is it a way of numbing yourself to problems, is it just a mindless way to fill time? Do you you watch things that you like, or do you just turn it on to find anything to watch? Do you ever use TV as a way of spending time with your bride, or do the two of you watch different things, meaning the TV separates you?
I am not against TV – it makes a fine tool, but a very bad task master. If you are spending too much time, time you really can’t spare, on the TV, then I would suggest a change is an important step towards being less busy and having more time for what is important.
Some folks just pull the plug, cold turkey. Others move the TV – out of the bedroom, or to a room other than the living room. A good way to get control is to record shows, or watch movies, or rent TV shows on DVD from Netflicks or some other such service. This way you can set aside time to watch TV, rather than having to plan your life around the TV schedule. If you find you are recording more than you can watch in the time you have alloted, then cut something out. Decide what you really like, and watch that.
Finally, for some the TV is not the problem, but the method used to waste time or to escape reality. I know folks who ditched TV and then found new ways to waste time and escape reality. In this case the real issue was something else, and getting rid of TV did not help them at all.
