6 Tips to Kick Your TV/Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Habit
TV programming is not the same as it was. That is not to say that it is better or worse. There is just a lot more of it! You can watch it live, record it on your DVR, stream it, or watch almost any show from services like Hulu and Amazon or network-special programming from HBO and Netflix. How do you know if you are watching too much?
Watching TV these days is like eating Thanksgiving dinner. There is so much to choose from that even if you watch just 1 show on each network, you are spending a lot of time in front of some sort of screen. I would love to say that this has never been a problem for me but that would be just silly. Who doesn’t like The Good Wife, or House of Cards, or Breaking Bad, or Orange is the New Black? I also watch true crime shows, like Dateline or 20/20 and, of course, every Ohio State Buckeye football game. You might be thinking – wait – I watch a lot more than that! Is she saying that this list is too much? No, I’m not saying that. What I am saying is that each person’s needs to balance their TV viewing habit with their lifestyle and their health!
So, how do you know how much is too much for you?
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Are you regularly missing family activities or events?
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Are you choosing one of your programs over sleep?
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Do you always choose to watch TV over that great book that “everyone” has told you to read?
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Are you choosing TV over spending time with a friend in need?
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Are you choosing TV over exercise most of the time?
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Are you choosing to watch TV while your to-do list at home gets longer and longer?
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Do you consider watching TV as quality time with your kids?
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Are you watching TV and not keeping your mind active/learning something new?
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Is watching TV usually the only activity you are doing in bed with your spouse?
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Are you watching TV and not spending time outdoors?
So, how did you do? Did you answer yes to more than 2 of these questions? If so, you might want to consider some of these ideas to balance your life, health and relationships with your TV-viewing habits:
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DVR it. Yes, this only puts off the TV viewing time to another date/time. But, at least you can do it at a time that works better with your life, your family, your friends and your health.
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Watch one of your shows while you are exercising on the treadmill or elliptical. Guilt-free TV viewing! And, if you promise yourself that you will ONLY watch a particular show while exercising, you might even exercise more often.
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Instill good habits in your kids. Don’t watch TV with them. A movie now and then or a news or educational program is fine. Other than that, play games, read, or play outside with them. Teach them the TV-free life. [Click to Tweet]
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There are lots of good educational programs on TV but diversify your learning experiences to keep your mind active and engaged. A brand new study links excessive TV-watching to dementia![1] Read or join a book club, go to a museum, travel, engage with people, or play brain training games like Lumosity. [Click to Tweet]
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Spending time outdoors is great for many reasons. It boosts your creativity and focus, increases your Vitamin D intake, improves your mood and self-esteem, and has healing potential! [Click to Tweet] “One study found people exposed to 46 percent more sunlight after surgery used 22 percent less pain medication per hour.”[2] If you live where nice weather is rare, go outside and skip the TV.
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Physical intimacy is the key to a successful, long-term relationship. It brings two people together and helps them bond. It lessens relationship problem and helps people overcome insecurity. Finally, it is a way of showing love.[3] So, tonight when you go to bed, leave the TV off, cuddle up with your significant other and talk or just lie still and feel the love!
In the last few years, I have greatly reduced the amount of time I watch TV using some of these strategies. It has improved my life in general, my health and my relationships. It was hard in the beginning like any new habit but now, I can’t imagine where I found the time to watch so much TV. All of that being said, I will tell you that almost NOTHING, none of the items listed above, would keep me from watching my Ohio State Buckeyes come football season.
So, has TV ever “controlled” your life? What did you do about it?
Caroline Boardman
July 22, 2015
www.balancingyourchemistry.com
Functional Endocrinology of Ohio
Akron: 2800 S. Arlington Road, Akron, Ohio 44312 (330) 644-5488
Cleveland: 6200 Rockside Woods Blvd., Ste. 100, Independence, Ohio 44131 (216) 236-0060
Dr. Keith S. Ungar, Dr. David Starkey and Dr. Andrew Kender, Chiropractic Physicians
To make an appointment, click here.
[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/too-much-tv-can-raise-the-risk-of-alzheimers-new-study-suggests/2015/07/20/7dcdc4cc-2eea-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html
[2] http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2015/03/06/spending-time-outdoors.aspx
[3] http://www.onlymyhealth.com/how-important-physical-intimacy-in-relationship-1307596226
