BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Self Development How Much TV Do You Watch?

I usually watch House, or anything that's pretty funny before going to bed.

Deb - I would actually not count things you do while exercising to help you exercise better. So if you watch TV, or listen to music, or read a book all of that is done in service of your exercising. So that sounds awesome!! Plus you're avoiding commercials - doubly good!!

So really it's just the Today show to wake up, and the evening news / dateline to eat dinner with.

My only comment there is that I swore of the evening news years ago because they are SO hyped on bad news. It is what sells ratings which is what they primarily care about. So I'd almost suggest doing something more positive even like the HGTV show, and get the news in a less bad-news-priority way

I don't watch that much tv. I can't even tell you what TV shows are on. People at my work talk about TV shows. I have no idea what there talking about. If I watch TV it's the older shows, Discovery channel, Minnesota Vikings.

PattiJean, my tv habits are like yours. I rarely watch it. On the flip side, my 82-year-old mother turns it on as soon as she wakes, and keeps it on all day. She does other things while it's on - even reads, but always has it on.

When I travel with her (to visit my brother & his family, e.g.) it drives me crazy, because she is not a good sleeper and keeps it on until she is "sure" she's ready to fall asleep. It seems silly, because she wouldn't think of listening to music, or writing, or doing yoga as a way to relax.

I do just grin-and-bear-it, and get used to it by the end of a weekend. Life's too short to get upset about anyone's tv habits.

Carolyn - that's so very true with an 82 year old. My grandfather used to smoke when he was elderly and the doctor tried to get him to quit. It was one of his only remaining pleasures in life and it wasn't like he was going to live much longer anyway. My mom was upset with the doctor for trying to make him "reform" at such a late age, when he had so little left to enjoy.

If someone in their 80s has found a routine they enjoy, I say let them enjoy it.

My 24-yr old son had a friend over the other night. He was telling me about his 90 year old grandfather. The man lived a full life, has an 8x10 vault with a lifetime collection of coins in it, lives in a historical house, and built a business that is franchised in several states on the east coast (USA). He now has Parkinson's Disease.

This young man was upset with his grandfather because his grandfather has a few drinks every day, and the doctor told him (and his family) that he should stop drinking. I laughed.

Oh, sorry. I think I got off the subject of TV. My apologies.

My son plays PS3 constantly. Would you consider that "watching tv"?

I have heard that Lisa as well. I have never read things about it but I do know the studies are out there. The friends who told me about doing that just do it so they do not end up watching television all day. I have the television in the living room and it is on from the time I get up and until I go to bed.

If the television is in the bedroom, then it is not as convenient to have on and one would actually have to get up and go into another room to watch television.

Of course, if one has the luxury to have a big enough home where they have a separate room for a living room and a family room, then you can put the television in one of those rooms so it "is out sight, out of mind".

It is damaging to the fact that you become dependent on it and instead of using it as a tool, people tend to use it as a crutch. What is meant by this is the following:

If you are having trouble sleeping, you should only remain in bed for 20 minutes actively trying to sleep by calming yourself, clearing your mind of unneccessary worries, etc. If you cannot do that in 20 minutes, you should get up and do an activity for about 30 minutes to help clear your mind and burn off excess energy (no excercising).

If you have a tv in your room, most people will roll over and turn it on. instead of using a pattern of 20/30 (attempts to clear mind/getting up and doing somethign) they will just watch the telly and get interested in a program without actually calming themselves to be able to return to sleep. This can turn into a crutch as the body becomes used to associating the bed with entertainment instead of rest and then you cannot easily get rest. TV in a bedroom is an insoniacs worse crutch.

With that being said, I do have a tv in my room. It is a small tv. They say you shouldn't have large tellies you will enjoy, instead opting for smaller 13ish inch models. It puts a slight strain on the eyes and allows you not to enjoy the tv for too long of a period and thus not relying on it. I use it at times when I am unable to sleep to put on programs I know will allow me to zone out and thus become tired. I don't turn on the news as I am a news junkie. It used to keep me up but with the 20/30 trainign I had with my sleep therapist, I am able to have a tv in my bedroom and not have it be a crutch to not sleep.

I think someone who is 90 years old and has Parkinson's should be able to enjoy a few drinks if they want to. The guy deserves to live his final years on his own terms.

I understand intellectually where doctors are coming from - but I believe strongly in the quality of life, not in dragging it out eternally in a way that doesn't make you happy.