In Short:
Don’t watch TV for an entire week. Yes, it is possible. #TurnOffTheTV
What’s In It For You:
Depending on your current habits, you could easily free up several hours of your precious time per week. Spend the time with your family, exercise more, meet with friends, build a website, travel or do whatever else comes to mind. Just don’t watch TV
Why To Turn Off The TV
Generally speaking, watching TV is neither healthy for your body nor for your brain.
Evolution didn’t put humans on top of the food chain to then digest nothing else but mediocre TV shows. Plus, alimentation habits in front of TVs are usually way below par as well.
The problem with TVs is not just the ever-decreasing quality of content and the annoying ad breaks, but also the troubles of turning it off after the show you originally intended to watch is over. There are just way too many other mind-numbing, yet often entertaining programs out there these days.
If you really can’t understand why TV may be bad for you, take a quick look at this article. It’s focused on kids, but the arguments are perfectly valid for adults as well. In case you are super short on time, because the next show is about to start: Simply compare the number of con arguments with the number of pro arguments. And then… please don’t watch that show.
Cool side effects: Less used electricity saves you money and protects the planet. So many birds killed with one stone!
How To Turn Off The TV – And Keep It Turned Off
I trust that you know how to turn your TV off.
Now, to not turn it back on within the next seven days, simply make turning it on a turn-off. Pull the plug. Take out the batteries from your remote control and hide them. Place the TV behind a wardrobe, if you wish.
Throw away the TV guide, should you have a hard copy. Delete the app, if you have one.
Google “cool real-life activities”, and make a short list of things you’d like to do instead of watching TV. Whenever the turn-on-the-TV-nerves tingle, check your list – and do one of those things instead.
The Jallenge
Start today. Right now. Throw your wristband on and turn off the TV in case it’s running. Leave it off for 7 days.
If you live with your family or have flat- or housemates, tell them about your Jallenge. Involve them. Buy a board game you can play together. Google “fun card games” if you must.
If you live alone, challenge the person you used to watch most TV with, or talk about TV shows the most. Find something else you can do together.
Send greetings with #TurnOffTheTV.
Turn The TV Off Today!
If not you, who? If not now, when?
Challenge yourself. Change the world.
Remarks / Comments / Annotations
I lived without TV for a full five years. I did watch important soccer matches in bars (hey, we became world champions in 2014! Couldn’t miss that…) and saw some movies on my laptop. Not a single time did I miss a TV.