Observations So Far

Back in mid-August 2008 I started The Great TV Experiment. So far the results have been really positive. It has sparked many good conversations, and I’ve learned that a lot of people feel the same as I do.

My cousin in Pennsylvania writes:

"Great work on giving up your TV!!! I read your blog and found it very interesting. It takes a lot of courage to change like that. What will you do after the year is up?"

Interesting question, and although I’m just shy of 5 months into The Experiment I’ve already given it some thought. I'm leaning toward not reconnecting cable service when the year is up. Here are some of the reasons why:

The TV no longer determines the atmosphere in my home.
In my first post in August 2008 I mentioned the constant noise, and that my need for a certain amount of peace and quiet was not being met. In order to maintain a healthy atmosphere in my house I took the control away from the television and put it back into my own hands, where it belongs.

Reduced cost of my cable bill.
Although I pay a bit more for high speed internet service alone vs. having the package deal (cable plus internet), the savings of nearly $40 per month was immediately put to better use, paying down debt or buying groceries or gas.

Many things I thought I would miss are actually available elsewhere for free.
We have 3 public libraries in town with great shows and movies to check out. With a quick internet search I was pleased to see some of my favorite PBS series in their catalog. I’m also brushing up on my Spanish via language CDs I found there.

Where I live it is important to have up-to-date information on winter road conditions and weather advisories. The Weather Channel offers a free download called Weather Desktop. I also bookmarked my favorite local news channel and login before work to check for snow day closures.

Peace Reigns Once Again
Cutting out the television is one way for me and my family to have healthier, more fruitful lives. Have you made some major lifestyle changes that you’re happy with? Post a comment – I’d love to hear what others are doing!

Peace on Earth . . . Or At Least in My Living Room

It is the end of December, and as is my usual year-end practice, I’ve been reviewing the resolutions made in January to see just how well I lived up to my own expectations for 2008. Living without TV ranks high on my list of “best things I’ve done this year”.

Positive Changes
One of the most striking (and therapeutic) changes to have come about is the sense of peace that has settled into my home. It’s been months since I’ve had to yell, “Turn it down!” every 15 minutes. I enjoy listening to music again. I’m able to decompress after work. I don’t have to barricade myself in my bedroom to escape the noise.

Best of all, my teenager has been reading. I’ve seen him with books, magazines and even the newspaper! Much to my delight, he has transformed from an underwear-clad, remote-hoarding, lump on the couch to an individual with observations on current events. Occasionally he even did some homework. When the weather was still warm we went for evening walks around the neighborhood. He spent time outside with his friends, riding bikes or playing basketball.

Picture Bliss
Our family’s Great TV Experiment is nearly 5 months along now. Although in the beginning we experienced a little pain, we’ve made great gains. After being on sensory overload for many years, I finally took control of my home environment and regained my sanity. In the process I also cut my cable bill by about 40%. It’s all good!

What changes do you think you’d see in your home and family if TV was not in the picture?

What Do I Do Instead of Watching TV?

Ah, Labor Day weekend. This blog is a day late getting posted because I’ve been catching up on sleep as well as things on my “to do” list. If you’re like me, a holiday weekend means at least one extra day to be at home instead of the office, which I fully appreciate!

Week 3 Without Cable TV. I admit I do miss it. I knew it would happen. But the flip side of the coin is that I’ve tackled a few things that I’ve been meaning to do for quite a while.

One of my favorite blogs is The Simple Dollar. Yesterday I found an old post called Ten Financial Reasons to Turn Off Your Television – And Ten Things to Replace It With. The reasons are compelling enough. Among other things, you’ll have one less monthly bill and no more obnoxious commercials tempting you to buy, buy, buy. You’ll be less sedentary (and theoretically more healthy, meaning less trips to the doctor).

What To Do Instead. The article suggests reading, taking a class, learning a new skill or hobby, and being more social. I’ve done a lot more cooking from scratch. I love to cook, and have enjoyed exploring recipes I haven’t used in a while. I make extra and freeze it in single-serving containers so we can benefit from home cooked meals during the week when there’s no time to break out the pots and pans (let alone clean up).

I’ve begun sewing again. Nothing major, just a few repairs here and there. My kitchen counters are on the way to being decluttered. I’ve read a few magazines and caught up on some DVDs. The weeds got pulled this weekend and I installed solar landscape lights. Most importantly, I’ve gotten more sleep!

Being without TV has forced my family to look at the things we’ve wanted to do but kept blowing off because it was easier to park ourselves on the couch and channel surf. We’re being creative, getting outside a little more, and having better conversations. I’m less crabby because I’m finally getting much needed quiet!

Week 3 without TV. . . so far, so good. Cancelling TV has been rewarding in so many ways. The Great TV Experiment is going well!

Do you have a "to do" list? What would you do if you had more time?

Reality TV Isn’t Reality

What is our fascination with reality TV? What makes us want to give up 30 minutes or more of our precious free time to watch celebrities (and sometimes every day folk) live a “real life”?

I’ve followed one or two. My favorite was “He’s a Lady”, a 6 or 8-week show about a group of hand-picked manly men who have to dress up (convincingly) as women when they are out in public. There were new challenges each week, from preparing a full-course meal to being on the runway fully decked out for a fashion show. The winner would take home $250,000, the others would go home with more understanding for their wives, knowing how to do their make up, hair and walk in heels. The guy who won was certainly deserving, the self-proclaimed ugliest woman in the bunch. But he had a heart of gold, and used his winnings to get his family out of debt and set his kids up for college. If they’d done a second season I probably would have followed it. Why did I watch it? It was a 30-minute break from the pressures of life, 30 minutes to take a break from my reality and think about something completely outside my own existence.

There are shows that probably shouldn’t have had a first season: The Newlyweds Nick and Jessica, Chaotic, Flavor of Love. (Why in the world would anyone want to be a “ho” for Flava Flave?) Do audiences return because they want to see how far the show will go in the next episode? Extremes and shock value . . . and our kids are watching.

The point is that many of these shows are contrived -- supposedly to entertain us – but they’re no more real than the man in the moon. They provide no value lesson and often strip away our values. They don’t impart truth or model a respectable way to live. Call me old fashioned, but that’s not entertainment.

In John December’s ebook “Live Simple” he says, “Satisfy your craving for ‘reality programming’ by going out in the ‘real world.’” From John’s tip “There are Many Alternatives to Television”, here are 10 things you can do instead of watching TV, with my comments in parentheses:

1. Read a book (go to the library).
2. Go to the cinema.
3. Watch a play or musical.
4. Write a letter (or an email or call a friend).
5. Go for a walk.
6. Pick up litter.
7. Volunteer.
8. State your dream (and take steps to make it happen).
9. Pursue your hobby.
10. Take a class.

Enjoy your real life!

My One Year Starts Today

On August 15, 2008 I decided to do a little experiment: Live without cable TV at home for one year. For about a month I'd been keeping an informal log in my mind of how often I watched TV and noting how much of what I watched was available elsewhere. More important than my own TV usage (which turned out to be only about 5 hours a week) was the effect TV was having on my 15-year-old. Typically out of town at camp or visiting friends during the summer, this year he attended summer school and was at home more. He also had a lot more free time on his hands (homework not being as demanding as the regular school year). A teenager with ADHD, he needed something on which to focus, and that focus was the TV.

The dynamic at home changed considerably. He became an underwear and t-shirt clad lump on the couch. He regularly skipped baths and didn’t bother to brush his hair. He was less able to pay attention. He became extremely agitated when he lost TV privileges for not doing his chores around the house. It alarmed me that he was hyperfocused on the TV and didn’t care about anything else.

For him, it was a constant battle against boredom, and TV became practically his sole source of entertainment. (It didn’t help that halfway into the summer he broke his elbow and couldn’t skateboard or ride his bike.) To me, the TV seemed to be on constantly, the volume going up and down with each commercial break or channel change. The endless chatter and noise made it difficult to focus. As a single parent with a full-time job outside the home, I need a good deal of quiet time daily. The situation became maddening. There was rarely a quiet moment when we were both at home except very early mornings (when he was asleep).

As I weighed the pros and cons of embarking on The Great TV Experiment, I asked myself these five questions:

1. What would I be missing on TV? Frankly, not much. I’m not saying all TV is bad. I'm an avid fan of HGTV and Food Network, as well as PBS, The History Channel and Discovery. I will miss my favorite programs, but that’s ok. All of these channels have websites so I’m not completely cut off.

2. Were there other sources from which I could derive the same entertainment or information without incurring an additional expense? Yes. The internet. The library. I also subscribe to a couple of magazines which I truly enjoy, stacks of which were growing because I hadn’t had time to read them. Now I do.

3. Would I save money? Yes. Cancelling cable TV service shaves about $40/month off my bill (I kept the high speed internet and digital phone service).

4. What about breaking news and weather? Again, the internet is an excellent source. In my part of the country it’s important to know about winter road conditions and school snow days. Road conditions are also available by phone.

5. What would we do in place of watching TV? Ah, probably the most important question, and one my son asked me in a near state of alarm when I told him I was cancelling cable TV. Last night after dinner he took it upon himself to find the three decks of cards that have been in the “game drawer” for years. He also found a book on card games in there. We sat on the couch in our PJs. The dog joined us. We played several games and had a cup of tea. We had family time. It was peaceful, glorious and fun.

By the way, we still have two DVD players. We own plenty of movies and can check out others at the library – for free.