Cutting the cord on our cable was great for our budget, but it was even better for my soul.
I was hesitant to pull the plug. I kept delaying the conversation with my husband, thinking I could put it off (hopefully until never). How would I get by without my Bravo and E! and MTV and every channel in between? What would I do without the Housewives and the Kardashians, the Teen Moms, the Bachelors and all the Real World Challenges?
But, then I did. I unplugged.
What happened next really shocked me!
My biggest takeaways from turning off the TV have been:
- More meaningful conversations with my husband
- More intentional use of my free time
- Improvement in my overall wellbeing, health and creativity
Being more interested in The Real Housewives than reading before bed with my kids is not the kind of mom I want to be.
Being more invested in who got the final rose on The Bachelor than talking with my husband about his day is not the kind of wife I want to be.
It took actually turning off all the background noise to get my attention.
I was just zoning out and ignoring the opportunities I had to better myself and pursue the things I’m passionate about. I found myself not even missing my shows. I was talking more, thinking more, reading more, doing more. I stayed outside past dark playing with my kids and enjoying the sunset, because I wasn’t rushing inside to get in place for the primetime lineup.
I enjoyed long conversations at the dinner table, because I wasn’t racing to eat while watching a show in the background. That fear I was going to miss something was gone. The time I actually gained by giving up my spot on the couch in front of the TV has been life changing.
I realized for the first time how watching hours of mindless TV on a regular basis had made me passive and less engaged.
I didn’t even see it until I stopped it. My routine, especially my sleep, has improved. I feel more creative and less tired. It took me several months before I even wanted to watch much of anything. I’ve eased back into watching Netflix or Hulu here and there, and I’ll binge watch a new series every once in a while, but it’s nothing like it used to be.
I still don’t have that urge to get completely lost in the screen every night. Now, I find myself being drawn to more interactive and creative programs, like game and trivia shows, documentaries, and shows that inspire self-improvement.
It was an eye-opening and pivotal experience.
I challenge all of you to go without watching TV, even if it’s just for a week or two, and I bet you see the difference, too!
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