Television Is Ruining My Life

Okay, well, to be honest, television is, in itself, not ruining my life. Television is a neutral, non-cognitive entity. Technically, it can’t consciously ruin my life. So, more accurately, it is my addiction TO television that is ruining my life.

I don’t remember when I started to become so dependant on being entertained. When I was growing up, my family didn’t have a television. Well, we did, but only until I was five years old, and frankly I can’t remember that far back. When I was five, Dad cut the cord off our miniscule television and proclaimed us a TV-free house. Through the years, the only exception was when we borrowed Grandma’s small television so Mom and Dad could watch the Chicago Bears games.

Being deprived of television was a two way street. On one hand, without the constant barrage of television, I was forced to find entertainment and creativity on my own. I discovered the world of literature and have had my heard buried in books ever since. I had creative outlets in an active imaginary world and social interaction in my small circle of neighborhood friends. I credit the lack of TV as responsible for my scholastic skills, increased vocabulary, love of reading, social skills, and basic conversational ability. So, it was a good thing.

On the other hand, when a child is deprived of something that mostly everyone else has, that thing takes on an air of mystery. See, my parents didn’t forbid me to watch TV. We just didn’t have one in our house. So, of course, every time I was invited to someone’s house, I would bask in the glow of their TV. My friends used to get so frustrated with me, since I spent my time at their house watching TV instead of playing with them. After a while, they all knew to invite themselves to my house where I would at least pay attention to them.

When I was 15, Dad decided we could “trust” ourselves with a television again. He bought a nice size TV and got cable. After that, Mom bought a VCR and the entire Shirley Temple Video Collection. For the rest of my high school years, I watched television in moderation. I remember my favorite shows were The Brady Bunch, In the Heat of the Night, Full House, Family Matters, Quantum Leap, Murder, She Wrote, and Perfect Strangers.

Still, by the time I went off to college, I didn’t think about TV at all. In college, I gathered with the rest of the George Clooney fans in our dorm lounge to watch ER on Monday nights. But really, beyond that, TV didn’t have a foothold in my life.

Even after Brett and I got married and moved into our apartment, I only watched TV occasionally. So, my addiction has really grown over the past six years we’ve been in our house.

I find myself drawn to the television. Promising myself I’ll just watch a half hour or hour long program. Four hours sometimes even five hours later, I find myself still sitting there in the dull, blue glow of the screen.

Four or five hours a night is a lot. It’s a lot of time I don’t use wisely. It’s a lot of time I am not getting things done. I’m falling behind, and it’s my own fault for becoming addicted to television.

When I realized this, and sadly, that was only recently, I immediately thought about giving up television all together. But then, of course, I realized the best way to change a habit is to do it in moderation. So, I’m consciously going to try to cut down seriously on my TV time. Some of the late night viewing, 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., has come about as a result of Brett’s working the night shift. I find myself alone at night, a little frightened, and hearing intruders and doom in every squeak and settle of the house. So, I turn on the TV for company and for noise. Then, I usually become interested in a half hour show and find myself awake until the station sign off at 12:00 a.m.

Thank goodness we don’t have cable. I’d never sleep.

Just to give you an example, I will take you through my TV week. I don’t have a TV Guide in front of me, so this is just by memory. I may miss something.

Monday:
Heroes
How I Met your Mother
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Late Night:
Everybody loves Raymond
Seinfeld
Scrubs (full hour)

Tuesday:
NCIS
Late Night:
Everybody loves Raymond
Seinfeld
Scrubs (full hour)

Wednesday:
LOST
Late Night:
Everybody loves Raymond
Seinfeld
Scrubs (full hour)

Thursday:
My Name is Earl (full hour)
The Office (full hour)
Late Night:
Everybody loves Raymond
Seinfeld
Scrubs (full hour)

Friday:
Numbers
Late Night:
Everybody loves Raymond
Seinfeld
Scrubs (full hour)

I don’t usually watch much on Saturdays and Sundays, since Brett and I are both home or running around. But still, look at how much time that all must take up! So, I’ve decided to try to completely STOP the late night viewing and try to get on a regular sleep schedule. Then, of course, I have to choose my favorites shows, and just stick to them.

If anyone has any secrets on how you’ve decreased your TV viewing time, I would love to hear them. Oh, and if you say, “Have kids.” I’m going to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.