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.