Recently I published a blog post detailing my journey to quit watching TV. Quitting was something that had been on my mind for many years prior.
The moment I finally felt inspired to do it came, ironically, while I was watching a movie, The Matrix Resurrections. I was watching it by myself, late at night, and somehow decided I’d stop watching TV cold turkey, directly after the credits rolled. I’ll never forget that moment.
There must have been something quite inspiring in the movie’s message, can’t remember for sure right now what it was. Maybe it was its “escape The Matrix” theme. But anyway, I did it: on December 2021, to use a phrase from The Matrix, “I unplugged myself.” 1 year and three months later, I still have not looked back.
The first 4 months were the hardest. I still thought a lot about TV, especially when something upsetting happened to me, and I wanted my cozy escape. But I endured, and slowly found myself starting to not care anymore about that stupid box.
One thing that helped me ease the transition was getting into audiobooks. Audionovels, to be more specific. That really made the difference. Listening at night, with my eyes closed, I could still have some kind of a similar experience to watching TV, without all the drawbacks.
I actually think audiobooks are great, and a natural thing for us humans to engage in. They have become an important part of my life.
So, what changes have I felt after stopping my dreadful TV habits? For starters, all the negative things I mentioned in part one, (feeling like a zombie, tired, down, not sleeping enough, to name a few) are gone for good. But to sum it up in one word, I feel way more LUCID. I can think more clearly and focused. My mind is more efficient. I also have more energy. I’m in a better mood. I’ve become way more productive. And being highly disciplined comes way easier. I feel almost like different person.
The extra time I got now, not wasted on TV, is something I appreciate a lot, too.
I also find myself enjoying a lot of activities I would not have found that enjoyable if I still watched TV. Television actually makes the rest of your life kind of unenjoyable, (as it depletes your dopamine reserves,) but quit it long enough, and suddenly you find that many things, even kind of mundane ones, acquire a new, more enjoyable dimension. It’s just another reminder of how unnatural TV is.
Do I miss TV? Nah, not really. I don’t think about it anymore. I’ve become quite indifferent to it. It’s just not part of my life anymore.
I do allow myself some concessions: First, I think using video content as a learning tool is great. So tutorials, lectures, and stuff like that is a go.
Also, tuning in to the occasional YouTube podcast, where you only get a feed of some dude talking, it’s alright too. Most of the times I even end up not watching the guy on the screen, but just listening, anyway.
Lastly, I do allow myself every now and then to go to the movie theater. I definitely want to watch some specific movies, and if it’s just once in a while I don’t see any harm in it. Last year I went to watch 2 movies, and I don’t regret it at all.
I must add that a couple of months ago I got myself a PS5, and started allowing me some video game playing time on the weekends. I don’t remember ever feeling hooked to video games before, so I think I’ll be fine.
Even if playing video games is kind of similar to watching TV, I think it is a superior activity that can actually have many benefits. I’ve been very mindful of playing in moderation, though. If I find that video games are negatively affecting my life, I’ll probably cut them out. I guess time will tell.
I highly recommend to anyone reading this to contemplate the effects that watching TV is having on their own life, and seriously evaluate if it’s worth it.
I wished for many years I’d be able to quit TV, and even if I found it hard at first, in the end it has been completely worthwhile. I think I appreciate It each day more and more.
