No TV June: Weeks 2-3 Update
Here’s the second update for my No TV in June Challenge. Keep reading and leave a comment to join this dialogue, then check out today’s writing prompt at the bottom of this post.
As you may already know, I challenged myself to not watch any TV in June, and started the challenge on the first of June. I am still going strong! I haven’t watched TV of any kind in 25 days.
Honestly, it hasn't been difficult to refrain from watching TV. I've just been reading more books and listening to more audiobooks in the evening instead of watching TV. It has been that easy. All I had to do was replace TV with books. Full disclosure: there are a few shows I've missed watching, but most of them are based on book series anyway (which I find immensely amusing), so it was easy to find their audiobook versions to listen to instead.
For the first couple of weeks with no TV, I wasn't sleeping all that well. I think that had to do with the warmer weather though, as I slept much better the last few nights when I put the AC on before bed. I have been getting more sleep most nights, as well, which has been amazing. Maybe my body had to get used to my newer routine and extra sleep? I also go to bed earlier now, and it’s easier to fall asleep. So that has certainly been a bonus.
Each day I go without watching TV, I have also noticed that I am more alert for longer stretches of time, which has been nice. My overall attention span and focus have steadily improved the longer I go without watching TV, and I don’t feel a major dip in energy during the late afternoon hours anymore. Perhaps my circadian rhythm is righting itself without all the extra blue light and the extra sleep? If so, that seems to make sense.
I still haven't had extra time to start any new hobbies or activities in the evening, instead of watching TV, which only proves how much time I didn't really have to watch TV in the first place. Still, I find my evenings are more intentional and less stressful without TV or feeling pulled to watch TV. Throughout the day I feel more intentional with my time too, which has reduced my anxiety levels. I may not have more time to do more things, but I feel less stressed and more focused when doing the things I do have time to do.
I also eat healthier meals at more appropriate times (6 pm instead of 8 pm) when I don’t watch TV. And I eat smaller portions when I am intentional with my time instead of sitting in front of a screen while eating or right before or after eating. This has been a game changer for me because I stayed up much later (11 pm or midnight) on the nights I was eating dinner too late in the past. But not anymore.
My husband and I have also had a little more time to talk to each other and connect at night instead of staring at a box on the wall, which has been nice. And I’ve been paying attention to our pets more, which has been fun and adds more joyful moments to our days. So, all in all, refraining from watching TV has shifted the tone in our house from a busy hectic one to a more relaxed harmonious one, and I am grateful for that.
I’m still debating whether I want to rid our house of all the TVs we own for good after June is over. Part of me doesn’t think it will matter much if we get rid of them all at this point. Yet another part of me wants to keep at least one TV in the main living room for the occasional movie night, and to watch sports we enjoy. Either way, I know refraining from watching TV in June has recalibrated my brain and daily habits in a positive way, enabling me to be more intentional with whatever we decide to do next.
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Today’s Writing Prompt
Writing Prompt: Poem, Resignation
Write a poem about a resignation from something, or about how it feels when you resign from doing something.
Writing Tip
Keep in mind that this writing prompt is intended to spur your creativity. You don’t need to be an expert poet in order to feel inclined to complete it. Just experiment with words a little bit and see what happens.
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I do a movie night with my brother and mom once a week maximum. Not with the TV, but a handy projector in a living room that accepts a USB 3.0 flash drive. I got my mom into American movies with subtitles. 😆 Cheers to your challenge, Kel