Parts of this post might feel somewhat like Miami after Hurricane Hugo—that’s because I originally wrote it about four years ago. Not that my writing back then was subpar, but rather, I haven’t revised the work much over the years. I’d change the dates based upon the amount of time at publication that had passed. Honestly, I haven’t sat down to watch TV since mid 2017. I even skipped the 2020 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays. I watched the final out and celebration for the first time some days ago–though I would watch games from time to time on YouTube, mostly highlights. Shohei Ohtani, the star player for the Dodgers, in an Anaheim Angels uniform seems VERY STRANGE to me, for I wasn’t aware of his stardom until recently. If you peruse the my blog, you will notice that I’ve written quite a bit about baseball. Most of these are based on my own knowledge of the game and stuff I’ve watched on YouTube. But I’ve missed quite a bit, including never witnessing future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander pitch for the Mets. I also during that time never once saw a US President speak live on TV. Nor was I aware that Indiana Jones 5 and the host of other sequels had been released.
Anyway, I wanted to republish this post as is for now, and hope you enjoy it.
I Quit Watching TV Over 7 Years Ago–And Here’s What Happened
June 2024 marked seven years since I stopped watching TV. Although I had long been wanting to quit TV, this didn’t actually happen until the spring of 2017. Many have asked me what I’ve accomplished since the start of my TV fast, and in this post, I will provide the answers.
Now, why did I decide to go on a TV fast in the first place? I wasn’t happy with the quality of the programs I was watching, including the news. The constant barrage of negative news was stressing me out, so I made the decision to give up TV for at least the spring, and possibly the summer.
How has not watching TV for the past 6 years altered my perspective on the world?
A TV fast has, above all else, reinforced my belief that, despite our differences in culture and geography, we are fundamentally the same as human beings. Through the consumption of various forms of media, be it literature or television, I have arrived at the realization that we share a commonality that transcends borders. This insight has been nothing short of liberating, as it has allowed me to embrace our shared humanity on a deeper level. Although I have traveled extensively in the past, it was only during my recent TV fast that I fully comprehended the universal nature of our humanity. It is incredible to contemplate that such a seemingly trivial decision as taking a break from television could have such a profound impact on my worldview.
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Despite my TV fast, I made an exception for YouTube and kept my SmartPhone close at hand throughout the entire experiment. My reasoning behind this was to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings both nationally and internationally. This decision proved to be a fruitful one as I not only kept abreast with current affairs but also managed to educate myself in the process. Surprisingly, this approach also led to an increase in my productivity levels. I limited my usage of the phone to research purposes and catching up on current events, treating it as a veritable school.
A TV fast has allowed me to learn more about myself and what I like/dislike.
Not only has giving up on TV allowed me to pursue self-study in other areas, but it has also allowed me to delve deep within me to find out what it is that I want to do most in life. I’d just stopped working at a factory months before, and was at a crossroads in terms of my career, not knowing in which direction to head. However, giving up on TV has allowed me the solitude and quiet to be able to solidify my hopes and dreams so that I could pursue a clear path to my dreams. Giving up TV has allowed me to do this and so much more.
During this time, I’ve also discovered a new pleasure: audiobooks. Prior to my TV fast, I tended to think of audiobooks as a quite boring way of consuming books. Why? Because I hadn’t had much experience with them, believe it or not. I’ve been a lifelong lover of books and learning but had never really seriously listened to books on audio, until then. In five months, I was able to consume over thirty books in various categories. I felt as if I learned quite a bit. It was at that point that being in a TV fast didn’t seem so difficult, and in fact I began to fall deep in love with the idea.
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In addition, I no longer feel that I have to watch a particular show. Before, I used to worry about having missed a program, and that feeling would linger throughout the day. True, I did have the ability to record the shows, but this was always for me and added hassle that I never bothered with to take care of. And so, if I didn’t watch the show when it first came on, then I missed it entirely.
What’s The Strangest Thing I Noticed After Not Watching TV?
Now there’s one strange thing that I noticed after I give up on TV, and that is that certain things do not matter for me anymore. I mean, does it really matter that I catch the news and hear about an unfortunate event miles away from home? With this add to my sense of calm and peace throughout the day? I found the answer to these questions was no, so, and this goes for anyone who hopes to improve their lives, if you hope to clear your mind of all negativity, then it is best you do not feed it with anything that is not positive.
Occasionally, I will walk in on someone watching a program on TV, and at that point I will turn my head away. Usually I’m not asked by the viewer whether I’m sensitive to what’s on the tube, and my response is always the truth, that I no longer watch TV. Most of the times the person that is watching TV understands and there’s no further question, but sometimes he’ll press for answers, and at that point I will start to share with him the advantages I found by giving up on TV.
I also gave up on sports watching during this time. I do still enjoy taking a long walk and occasionally jogging, so I no longer follow organized sports on TV. Most of the baseball articles I’ve written on my site are based on research in my own knowledge of the game. Has this been a good thing? Well, being that my favorite baseball team, the New York Mets, hadn’t been contending for quite some time, this was not something difficult for me to do. I may come back though when they’re doing much better, but for now I’m totally free of the tube.
Best Benefit of Quitting TV
I think the best thing to come out of this TV fast is that I began to pursue my writing dreams and goals. Every day, rather than watching a half hour of the news, the first thing in the morning, I would compose at least several pages of pros, later to be edited. And I also found that the quality of the writing was better, allowing me to edit my own work in record time. This was impossible before I gave up on TV. And although I did to the copious rounds of writing before the TV fast, afterwards my productivity just shut up like never before.
Is a TV fast good for you? I can tell you firsthand that the benefits for me have been enormous, and if you’re looking to improve your life in more ways than one, then I urge you to consider giving up on TV. You may start slowly, and then gradually continue to watch less and less TV each day, until one day you find that you CAN do without it.
Choosing a TV-free lifestyle has been one of the most impactful decisions I’ve made. By stepping away from the screen, I opened up time for pursuits that truly enrich my life—from writing and reading to personal reflection and self-growth. I hope that sharing my experience might inspire others to consider how even a brief pause from TV could positively impact their own lives. It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing; even small steps can lead to meaningful change. For those who are simply curious and/or ready for a big shift, a break from TV might be just what you need to refocus on what truly matters.
