Sometimes I find myself glued to the couch, watching episode after episode of my favourite shows on television. Back to back episodes of Modern Family or The Big Bang Theory. I must be honest that it is not always the most productive use of my time!
I read somewhere that it is very hard to break a habit (in this case watching tv) and that it works a lot better to try and replace one habit with another. So let me introduce you to a few activities that I have replaced my TV time with. These will leave you feeling more fulfilled, informed and ready to take on the world.
Take Up a New Hobby
For me it has been taking a walk. Instead of spending my afternoons slouched on the couch watching tv, I have found it helpful to take a 30 minute walk around school. Not only does it get some oxygen flowing to my brain, it also helps me destress after a long day of studying. Plus, you do not have to do it alone. I take my walks with a good friend of mine, Aobakwe and it gives us time to catch up!
Not all hobbies need to be physical, You can try taking pictures if you fancy yourself a photographer, or as I do sometimes, learn how to make a bracelet! To try out a new hobby you can try out Hazellwood. They do craft classes.
Challenge Yourself, Leave Comfort Behind
With your “new-found TV-free spare time” try to challenge yourself. Let me tell you that last week I met up with three friends and we decided to enter a general knowledge quiz. Now between the four of us, we were only certain of the answer to one question: ‘How many bones does a shark have?’ (the answer is zero!). So it isn’t surprising that our team, despite having called ourselves ‘Team 100%’ came last!
We had all stepped outside our comfort zones, and despite failing dismally, we had a whole lot of fun. We even scored some chocolate while at it. If you want to do a general knowledge quiz both Bull and Bush and the Espresso Deli do them. Either way do something you usually would not do, surprise yourself with a bit of an adventure.
Work on Your Passion
At this point, many of us have found something that we are really passionate about. Whether you are the best football player in your team, or you enjoy writing. Make sure you invest in your passion and take time to perfect it. Whether it be art, athlete or future engineer, channel as much energy into making sure you are better than you were yesterday.
I love writing, and I have found that it is very easy to put off my articles, because there is no pressure for me to write anything down. But I keep reminding myself that the difference between me and the next best blogger is the hours they put into their work.
Replace TV Time with Alternative “Screen Time”
One annoying thing about TV is that you have very little control over the shows that are aired. Unless you have a fancy decoder that can record shows, you are stuck with what the TV offers at a point in time.
A priceless solution to that is YouTube, you have better control over what you watch and your time can be directed to doing research about the things that interest you, without limits. I am interested in video editing and graphic design, so my time on YouTube is spent watching editing videos, usually made by professionals!
Another option could be to take an online course, most courses are free and you can study anything from ‘food as medicine’ to ‘introduction to Japanese’, knowledge that can come in handy when applying to University.
So I’ve got a new hobby, challenged myself and learnt some new things by just giving up having so much TV time. Let me know if you manage to walk away from that TV and couch. I would love to hear from you.
- Why I Stopped Watching TV and So Should You - 07/11/2017
- Top 5 Tips to Help You Study: A Teenager’s Perspective - 26/10/2017
