How Upgrading Your Free Time Can Make You Happier
For as long as I can remember, I’ve watched too much television. It’s something I’m ashamed to admit.
25 years ago, late night reruns of M*A*S*H became my bedtime routine and falling asleep to the blue glow of the screen became the norm almost every night. From the moment I got home, it filled the house with the sounds of companionship.
I wanted to choose reading over TV. That rarely happened.
TV is a hard habit to break. As an introvert with stressful social work jobs, reading required more focus and energy than I had after work. Watching TV was an easy way to unwind and recharge, which I equated with pleasure and contentment.
One Saturday, I spent the day in a multi-hour marathon of reality TV. Experimenting to see what effect it had on my mood. I watched as anxiety, listlessness, and boredom took over. I could feel my brain turning to glue, my motivation to do anything falling apart.
Having trouble sleeping and laying awake at 3:00 AM, it was hard to ignore that the blue screen light was affecting my sleep.
This was the inspiration I needed. Willing to do anything for a good night’s rest, and after years of thinking about it, I finally took the TV out of the bedroom.
By cutting the cord, I discovered one of the most satisfying parts of my day, reading and writing before bed.
To relax, we think we need to do the easiest thing. I know I did.
It’s misguided to look for pleasure in passive entertainment according to Mihaly Csikszentmihaly in his book Flow. When we take the “creation” out of recreation we miss out on the opportunity to find enjoyment and flow from being challenged.
Getting absorbed in a project like reading and writing is rewarding in a way that television isn't.
At night, savoring beautiful passages and marveling at the intricate pairing of words, I can see my brain spring to life with inspiration for my writing.
Racing to get my thoughts down on paper, they tumble onto the page as new ideas come rushing in. Perfectly present and immersed, I leave all worries from the workday a million miles away. I’m refreshed by the energy of building something new.
I want to do things of value and to be engaged in an ever evolving process of personal growth.
That doesn't happen when I’m watching another episode of Vanderpump Rules. All the bickering makes it hard to connect with what’s special about the hours before bed. More than any other time of day, in the quiet before sleep, I am flooded with thankfulness. Without any special gratitude practices. There’s nothing missing in that moment. And that's a whole other level of happiness.
YOUR TURN
Have you ever cut out television? How did it make a difference in your life?
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