Why Cutting Back on TV Will Make You More Productive: 6 Hacks to Try

It’s no secret that watching television is a favorite pastime of many Americans. In fact, according to recent statistics, the average adult American spends more than five hours a day watching TV—that’s approximately 35 hours a week. That’s almost as much time as most of us spend working! But what if you could cut back on your TV habits and use that time for something more productive? Here are six hacks to try:

1. Read a Book

Reading is an enjoyable activity that many of us wish we had more time for. By dedicating a couple of hours each night to reading, you could make your way through three or four books a month. Not only is reading better for your mind, providing you with valuable information and insights into different topics, but it also makes you a more interesting and well-rounded person.

2. Cook a Healthy Meal

TV watching and unhealthy eating often go hand-in-hand. When people are camped out on the couch, they don’t have time to cook. By cutting out television, you can spend more time cooking healthy meals. Not only will this allow you to learn new cooking skills, but it will also lead to a healthier life. If you have a partner or children, you can enlist them to help you in the kitchen, creating a good teaching and bonding opportunity that you might have otherwise missed.

3. Get Some Exercise

Now that you’ve got healthy eating down, you can adopt an exercise regimen to lose those excess pounds and get in shape. Take a run after work, lift weights at the gym, or take a yoga class. In the same amount of time it would take you to watch an episode of Law and Order, you can finish an excellent calorie-burning workout.

4. Take an Online Course

With an extra 30-35 hours in your weekly schedule, you could sign up for an online course and learn a new skill, obtain a new certification, or potentially earn a new degree. There are thousands of online learning opportunities available, and your time will be much better spent in front of the computer than in front of the TV.

5. Get a Head Start on Work

By knocking out mundane work tasks while at home, you’ll find that you’re able to accomplish important things more easily and quickly when you’re in the office. Stress levels may decrease when you show up with work already completed and you may even find that you can head home at a more reasonable time.

6. Get a New Hobby

Whether it’s writing, drawing, gardening, playing guitar, flying planes, or something in between, a few extra hours a week should be plenty of time to try out a new hobby. You might even make some new friends in the process!

In conclusion, while no one is saying TV is evil and it’s fine to have your favorite shows, the facts suggest Americans are spending way too much time watching TV. By reducing the amount of time you spend mindlessly watching shows and using that time to do productive things, your life can become much happier, healthier, and varied.

So, what are you waiting for? Give some of these hacks a try and see just how much more productive you can be on a daily basis.

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Featured photo credit: Tracy Thomas via unsplash.com