What Watching TV is Doing to You
And how to Prevent it
It started as a form of entertainment and now has become a way to waste time.
When we should be completing our to do lists for the day, we end up lying on the couch watching episode after episode on Netflix.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can take back our lives from the screens stripping us of our time.
Here are a few ways that you can prevent the negative effects watching too much tv does to us.
AutoPlay kills Productivity
Ever watched multiple episodes of a series when you planned on only watching one?
This happens to me all the time. I use it as background noise while I’m writing but for others it’s a problem.
You had goals for your day off but accomplished none of them and sat in front of the tv instead.
Turn off this feature. It makes it easier to watch more than one episode but when you have things to do or somewhere to be, it makes it impossible to get your tasks done.
Once you start getting your tasks done, you’ll realize how much free time you have. That’s when you get to sit in front of the tv and turn on auto play.
Some like having something on in the background to drain out the silence. Try music instead. Listening to your favorite artists makes it easier for you to be productive throughout the day.
This isn’t the only thing you can do to increase your productivity.
Keep the remote far away
When I watch tv I always put on what I want to watch and then put the remote next to the tv.
I found it made me lazy when I had it next to me and having to get up to change the channel or the show made me realize I should turn off what I was watching instead of watching the next episode.
Watching tv is fun. No one denies that but it can make you lethargic.
Too many times have I said “I’ll just watch one episode” and it turned into five. To help my productivity, this is what I did.
While watching TV, make sure that the remote control is placed next to the TV so that you can avoid getting lazy. This will force you to get up more often.
You might see the remote is out of reach and decide to do something else.
Many times I get annoyed that the credits are playing after watching an episode and that’s enough motivation for me to get off the couch.
Posture is Important
Growing up we think we’re invincible. That’s because our bodies are the best they will ever be at those young ages.
As we get older, we need to consider how to take care of our bodies. Posture is one way. When sitting, don’t slouch. Sit up straight and keep your shoulders back. This will improve your posture.
It’s also important to make sure your butt goes to the back of the seat you're sitting in. This will prevent you from getting injured.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re watching an episode on your tv, your laptop, or your phone. We all wind up in weird positions trying to get comfortable.
Try to keep an eye on how you’re positioned on the couch, in bed, or even standing. You won’t know how bad your posture is until you start moving again and your neck feels stiff.
Final Thoughts
Your time is one of the most important assets you have. Don’t let everyday tasks like watching tv get in the way from doing what needs to be done.
Turn off AutoPlay when you are watching Netflix. This will help you stop watching at the end of the episode and may make you realize you have to get your food shopping done.
Keeping the remote may do the same thing but it’s a definite way to make sure you get off the couch. Sometimes we just need to get moving to get our tasks done.
Posture is more important than you think. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the old man with the hunched back when I am 80.
There’re other tricks you can try to prevent tv from wasting your time but these are what works for me. If you’re looking to stop the habit of watching too much, I hope these work for you too.
About the Creator
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