5 Massive Benefits Of Not Having A Television

February 19th, 2007 • Dean • Related • Filed Under •

Feed Count If you're new here you may want to join the 5000+ smart shoppers that that subscribe to my RSS feed or Free Newsletter. Thanks for visiting! - Dean aka Mr. Cheap Stuff

Well it has been about 6 months now since I did the unthinkable and tossed my TV out of the living room.  I have been living without a TV for a while now and I can honestly say I don’t plan on getting one anytime soon.  While it was a pretty extreme measure the benefits are huge and I wish more people would do the same.

Television
“Don’t let this Box control your life”

I have decided to share some of my observation over the past 6 month by putting together a list of the top 5 benefits of not having a television.

1.  Having Too Much Time?

I know this may seem weird but when I first tossed out the TV there were times I didn’t know what to do with myself because I had so much more free time.  I remember looking at the clock and thinking “wow” it’s only 8:00 PM when it felt much later. At times I was actually pretty bored but slowly I found things (productive) to do like do like cooking, chores, reading, listening to audio books and going to the gym.

2.  The Energy Tank is Full

Now why would I have more energy from not having a TV in my living room.  Well, what ending up happening for me was I started to sleep earlier.  This is because what used to end up happening when I did have a TV was I used to watch a TV show and tell myself I’ll go to sleep after the show, but as soon as that show was over I ended up finding another show I wanted to watch and tell myself the same thing.  This would easily keep me up an extra hour or more. 

So I get more sleep and feel much better in the mornings and throughout the day.  Really it is pretty simple if you get enough sleep you will be running at optimum levels physically and mentally.  So if you are the type of person that is always reaching for the cup of coffee mid-day you may benefit from this.  You will be surprised to know what kind of chain effect an extra hour of sleep will do to your mood, energy and stress levels.

3.  Holy Crap, I Lost Weight



One of the things that I did with all the free time that I had especially on the weekends was to get more active by going to the gym, playing sports or going to the beach for a swim.  I will say I probably didn’t need to loose a lot of weight though primarily because I am not overweight.  In fact most people would probably say I could gain a few pounds but it has made me live a more active lifestyle.

Another thing I noticed was that I ended up snacking a lot less.  These days I hardly even snack at all.  I think when I used to watched TV I also tended to reach for a bag of chips or cookies.   This was a bad habit and by not sitting on the couch in front of the boob tube I was able to crack that habit really quickly. 

Now when I do buy snacks like chips it ends up getting stale because I don’t even finish it.  Snacking while watching TV I think  also causes you to overeat many times because your so focused on the TV show a lot of times that you may not know how much your actually eating.  Imagine how much less Doritos and OREOs would sell if everyone stopped watching TV.

4.  Living On My Time

For me this is probably one of the best benefits.  When I had a TV I used to schedule my time around a favorite show or tell myself I’ll do this or that after a TV show.  Now days I live on my time and am not shackled by the TV shows schedule.

You must be thinking doesn’t a Tivo or DVR do that.  Sorry, but I think Tivo works in theory but not in practice.  I had a DVR and guess what?  I ended up watching more TV not less.  For some people DVR may work but for the overwhelming majority I believe it means information overload.

5.  My Brain is on Fire



Over the past 6 months I have been able to read many enlightening books.  One of them I highly recommend is Getting Things Done by David Allen.  How I see the world 6 month ago has change dramatically because of all the learning and thinking I was able to do with my extra time and believe me this bozo needs all help he can get. 

Seriously though, if you ever wanted to learn a language or do a certain hobby then toss the TV and make those dreams a reality.  Think of all the thing you always wanted to do and replace the time your spend watching TV till you reach your goal.  Right now I am learning how to speak Japanese though audio lesson and Rosetta Stone software.  I always wanted to do it but now I am actually doing it.

Some things that I do miss about having a Television.

  • ESPN Sportscenter - I love watching sports, even though I am able to keep up with the scores and watch highlights over the Internet I don’t get the full coverage like Sportcenter.
  • Local News - While I do listen to the 5 o’clock and 10 o’clock local news again not being able to actually see certain stories do lose some of its effectiveness.
  • Pop Culture - When talking with friends or family I sometimes am left out of the loop because I have missed American Idol or 24 but really it is not a big deal.

I Challenge You! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe even inspired or enlightened you on the potential benefits of tossing the TV.  I’m sure there are much more benefits especially if you have kids.  So if you decide to take the plunge let me know how it goes.  Good luck and here’s to never having to watch an infomercial for that dam Ron Popeil Rotisserie Oven again!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Don't Miss Another Freebie, Deal or Coupon
Join the thousands of other subscribers and sign up for my FREE Newsletter and receive coupons, freebies and tips that save you money!
Enter Your First Name:
Type In Your Email Address:


There Are 24 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Yan on 21 February 2007:

    Thanks for sharing your story. I haven’t been watching TV programs for a couple of years, though I have not tossed it either. Kids still want cartoons, we use TV for our family photo album, and also watch a move every other weekend.

  2. Comment by Mr. Cheap Stuff on 21 February 2007:

    Great, I’m not a parent but applaud parents that monitor what their kids watch and set a great example for them by not being a couch potato.

    I know for some people getting rid of the physical TV is difficult but maybe canceling your cable would also help. By limited the TV channels you receive you will probably watch a lot less TV and still be able to watch your favorite DVDs and family albums.

  3. Pingback by Bryan C. Fleming » 30th Edition - Personal Growth Carnival on 21 February 2007:

    [...] Raymond David Salas presents How to Solve All of Your Problems Jack Yoest presents Pick a Publicity Shot GP presents Ingredients of Victory Conan Stevens presents Unpopular Geeky Kid At School To Movie Star - Build Self Confidence Dean presents 5 Massive Benefits Of Not Having A Television [...]

  4. Comment by John Lampard on 22 February 2007:

    Great article! I haven’t had a tv in years. The reception in an apartment I moved into a few years ago was really bad. The owner wouldn’t fix it, so I just gave my tv away. Years later, and I barely miss it, except as you say for news and things like that. OTO tv is great for kids - you can put them in front of some cartoons or something, and buy yourself a few minutes to get stuff done around the house!

  5. Comment by Mark on 25 February 2007:

    I do have a TV but one that is not hooked up to cable, on the rare occasion I do use a TV is for watching my DVDs when I have time to wind down.

    But I do have to agree with you, there’s so much more time in the day and less snacking without a TV. In fact, I find myself now trying to find time in the day to cram in more things to do without my TV.

    I may have to throw out my computer as well. Just kidding. How else would I find the time to waste blogging my response on your blog? Keep it up.

  6. Comment by Mr. Cheap Stuff on 25 February 2007:

    Yeah, my computer can be a time killer for myself as well.

  7. Comment by RJgator on 2 March 2007:

    I too stopped watching tv since last Fall! I’m in college and I found that i just wasted too much time on the tv procrastinating instead of studying. But now, I spend too much time on my computer! *sigh*

    You inspire me though. i’ll try to start some of those activities too, especially the reading part.

  8. Comment by Mr. Cheap Stuff on 2 March 2007:

    RJ, I must admit, not having a TV dramatically increases my time on the computer plus I already spend a lot of time on the computer because of my work.

    I think the trick is to make doing other activities a “must” not a “should” in other words schedule things around your activities or “me” time instead of the opposite.

    You make a great point though, why spend your college days watching TV and coup up in the dorm room on your computer? Go act a fool and fall on your face while your college days are still here. Live and Learn.

  9. Trackback by Victor-Fam.com on 4 March 2007:

    Towards Better Life Carnival Edition #6 (March 4, 2007)…

    Welcome to the March 4, 2007 edition of Towards Better Life blog carnival. There are altogether 63 submissions for this carnival. Enjoy reading!
    Career
    David Maister presents Managing Your Boss posted at Passion, People and Principles, saying, &#8220…

  10. Pingback by » CultivateGreatness Success and Growth Blog Carnival #011, March 5th, 2007 ? Personal Development Blog, Podcast, and Portal | Business Success Blog | Cultivate Greatness | on 5 March 2007:

    [...] presents 5 Massive Benefits Of Not Having A Television posted at Mr. Cheap Stuff, saying, “What easier way to improve your life then tossing out [...]

  11. Comment by writersgroupblog on 7 March 2007:

    Thanks for submitting this to The Writers’ Block Carnival!

    You can really feel the difference when you haven’t been exposed to television, even for a day. Great article.

  12. Pingback by Watch NCAA March Madness Online For Free on 15 March 2007:

    [...] watching the Pennsylvania an Texas A&M game.  Actually considering that I have gone on a TV diet, this would be the only way I could watch games at my place.  This is one of the few years I [...]

  13. Comment by Hosea Botnam on 15 March 2007:

    I really appreciate all you’ve said. It’s been wonderful not being controlled by my favorite programs. Since I have been married ( which has been 29 years) we have been without TV 24 years. I missed so many TV shows during that period, but it doesn’t even bother me . I’m so glad that we did it. It is a time robber. Call me, TV free.

  14. Comment by Mr. Cheap Stuff on 15 March 2007:

    Nice story Hosea, it really is “water under the bridge”.

  15. Comment by Cam on 16 March 2007:

    Haha! You gotta see the TV in my room, it’s still in the box sitting on top the tv stand since we’ve moved into the house this past August. I agree, there are a lot of benefits to not watching TV. Let me know when you’re down for some bodyboarding.

  16. Comment by Mr. Cheap Stuff on 16 March 2007:

    Yeah, less TV = More fun in the sun or time on my darn computer.

  17. Pingback by Compare TV Electricity Consuption on 4 May 2007:

    [...] also offer tips on how to save power on your TV.  If you really want to save power why not throw out your TV.  Here are some other tips on how to slash your tech bills by [...]

  18. Comment by Jenny Bunns on 19 November 2007:

    While I still enjoy watching DVDs at home, I hadn’t had cable since college, and don’t plan on getting it. I keep myself busy already, and if I had cable, I’d be too afraid I’d greatly lower my productivity level. And it’s a wonder to me when people can spend so much time not only watching TV, but talking about it as if it’s the only thing bonding one person to another. Small talk is great and all, but not having a TV has also gotten me to develop less superficial interactions with the people around me, as well. Thanks for this article!

  19. Comment by Kim on 27 February 2008:

    I have a television but only play the same DVDs over and over again because I am too cheap to purchase a dish, antenna, etc. and I do not prefer most of what is offered on the tube. Over the past eight years without “normal” viewing at my home but at a friend’s, I became a t.v. junky. Now, it is when I visit someone’s home and their television is on and if we decide to watch some of what is being shown to the masses, it makes me very aware that it is really is a distraction and is one of my greatest downfalls to living life without wasting away all of my time. So, it really true that without television we can lose the pounds. Over the past 2 years, I went from the mindless couch-potato, 246 pounds, down to a nice 150-160 (not sure)and counting. I am enjoying life so much more now, that I have no desire to return to it. As far as the computer is concerned, I only use as needed but it, like the t.v., is no longer attached to my side.

  20. Comment by Diana on 18 March 2008:

    I would chuck the TV in a heartbeat if it weren’t for the video game players in my home. They simply outrank me 7/1. =) That being said, the new TV is the internet. You can watch everything from your local news to your favorite TV shows to movies. You just need to know how to access the information that’s freely floating around.
    Check your local news stations website, you might be surprised to find that they offer video service of their latest news broadcast.

  21. Comment by Dean on 19 March 2008:

    Great point on watching the news Diana, many news stations offer online condensed versions.

    As nerdy as this sounds I am researching how to watch TV at 1.5x or 2x speed. For some shows this does not work but for shows like news it is awesome. Sort of like listening to a podcast or audio books at 1.5x or 2x.

  22. Pingback by 10 Frugal Questions With Jason White From FrugalDad.com : Mr. Cheap Stuff on 24 March 2008:

    [...] "I couldn’t agree with you more, I wrote about my experience of actually living without a TV.  Personally I don’t think there are a lot of good shows on television, maybe I’m [...]

  23. Comment by bjk on 14 July 2008:

    We have not had cable for years and love it. We do enjoy to watch movies so we still have a tv in the house. But it is nice, we have to say to each other, hey want to watch ____ and say yes lets do it tomorrow. We play more games as a family and my kids will read for HOURS!!! I love it. We to, can not get into the talk about what happened on whatever show. But we did not normally watch the shows they all watched then so it did not bother us much.

  24. Comment by Dean on 14 July 2008:

    Awesome, I can see made the unemotional decision of getting rid of your TV. I wish more people would be as bold and give it a try. Now if I can only spend less time on my computer :P

Post a Question or Comment