New Year's Resolution: Living Without Television

After spending a few years in college learning about art, advertising, and the media, I quickly decided that I no longer wanted television controlling my thoughts and my life. I turned the TV off and haven't gone back to it since.

For over a year, my husband and I lived in a tent in Hawaii. We were looking for adventure and wanted to make a fresh start. That year without electricity or running water went by peacefully without the need for a television. All we had to do was find activities that appealed to us.

There are many fun things that you can do instead of watching TV. You could do some of the obvious things such as read library books and play cards. There are video games, of course, but if you are uninterested in TV, you are probably not very likely to want to take up another bad habit. Instead, try some of the following ideas to stay busy.

Audio books are one of my favorite pastimes because I can listen to them and get other things done at the same time. I can sew, cook, clean, paint, and even do handcrafts and other hobbies while listening to great stories. Audio books tend to be very expensive, but you can check out as many as you like for free from your local library. I enjoy listening to the classics that we did not read in school. I have discovered that they are famous not because they are boring (a fact we thought we knew in high school), but because they are wonderful! Audio books make work go by faster and make tedious tasks enjoyable.

Take up a worthwhile hobby. Many hobbies can also bring in money. Many people say that there are things they wish they could do but have never tried or did not have the time. Sewing, quilting, woodworking, model building, art, photography, jewelry making, knitting, weaving, spinning, toy making, pysanky, soap making, cooking, dollhouse miniatures, and even writing are all great creative hobbies that can bring in a little extra cash.

If you enjoy working in the earth, you could take up gardening. Gardening is hard work, but is also very rewarding, especially if you grow your own food. Start with what is easy and work your way up. You will be so proud of the results.

Have you ever wanted to take up a sport? What about fencing, boxing, surfing, bicycling, or skateboarding? Perhaps you have always dreamed of learning how to ride horses. You could always take lessons or rent a horse to ride in your spare time. There is also hula and other types of dancing. Dancing is great fun and preferable for those who are not very fond of exercise.

I could never name every great activity in this article, but perhaps I have given you a few good ideas on how to live without a TV. You may also be interested in some of the following activities:

Work out/exercise

Volunteer to clean up the roadside

Get a metal detector and go treasure hunting

Learn something new

Go to a zoo, museum, or art gallery

Work on a puzzle

Start an aquarium or build a pond

Write a novel or write poetry

Start a home decorating project

Make handmade toys for children you know

Watch a movie

Start or join a band

Bake yourself a treat or learn to cook

Go for a long walk with your dog

Play board games with friends and loved ones

Go camping

Go out on a date or meet someone new

Go fishing

Sell some of your things on Ebay

Look for shells on the beach

Go swimming or waterskiing

Catch up on all of the things you have been meaning to

Write letters to friends and family

Do arts and crafts

Check out educational films from your local library

Seek out community activities

Go back to school or take classes on the side

Do crosswords and word finds

Organize your photos into albums

Listen to music

Take a walk in the park

Go hiking or spelunking

Go sightseeing in your town

Write up a family tree and learn your family history

Join a local theater and act in a play

Learn to make your own beer or wine

Find ways to better yourself