Unplugged: is life better without TV?

Why did I stop watching TV for six weeks from mid-July to the end of August?

You may well ask, after all it’s hardly a trending TikTok challenge – how boring would that be, watching someone not watching TV?

And why is it relevant to us here, looking at the joys and challenges of life over 60?

Well, it turns out it is very relevant.  Sitting down for prolonged periods is associated with higher risk of all sorts of undesirable outcomes: cardio vascular disease, muscle weakness and lack of mobility, reduced cognitive function, to name just the jewels in this particular crown.

Let me just say here I do understand that for some, a sedentary lifestyle is unavoidable.  My husband was a wheelchair user for many years and had no option but to stay seated. I have friends awaiting hip or knee replacement operations for whom moving about is agony and in some cases unsafe.  For me though, sitting down for a few hours a day, watching the drama of other people’s lives unfold on TV was a habit I had slipped into, yet I did have options.

Those long, sedentary evenings in front of the television is what I wanted to avoid in this challenge, not necessarily programme content. I am not anti-screens and in fact my screen time elsewhere went up.  My cat posted more frequently on Instagram (@threepawsfelix.  You’re welcome.)  I continued to watch YouTube for example on my phone - but the big difference was I could do this while moving about, doing other things such as unloading the dishwasher - my life is that exciting.

Last year I watched, amongst other things, all six seasons of The Sopranos over a period of a few weeks – those six seasons were originally broadcast over a period of seven years! There were 86 episodes of 50-60 minutes each, excluding advert breaks, which meant at least 78 hours sitting on my backside watching TV, staying up too late and probably snacking too, but that’s another story.

So, I decided to stop.  Admittedly the summer was a relatively easy time to do this; lighter evenings and warmer weather meant I could get outside, potter about, or go for an evening walk. I said I had an exciting life.

Instead of my day effectively ending at 6 or 7pm I became an evening gardener and cake baker and I undertook some decluttering.   I resurrected a few craft projects and got out my colouring books.  I went swimming at my local outdoor pool. Sometimes I went food shopping in the evening, when car parking is free in my town and there are yellow sticker bargains on the shelves.

I ate my meals at the table instead of off a tray, sitting on the sofa – much better for posture and digestion. My day shifted somewhat: because I went to bed earlier I also got up earlier.  I read more books because I mainly read at night in bed.

Over all, the challenge was a positive experience, but what did I miss?

The Paris Olympics. I didn’t see a single event, although I heard the news and highlights on the radio.

I listened to news headlines throughout the day but I missed the visual content and context of the news. However, given the nature of it at the time, including violent social unrest in the UK where I live, maybe that was a welcome break from the visuals.

I missed discussions with my family about what we were all watching and recommending; I felt out of the loop.

But I didn’t miss any specific programmes.  I don’t follow any soaps or reality TV  so most of my viewing comes from scrolling what is on offer, or being tempted by trailers.  As the TV wasn’t on, no recommendations or trailers got through, so my interest wasn’t piqued and my thumb didn’t click.

Now it’s September and the days are already shorter I will start watching some TV again, but I will definitely be more mindful and selective about what and how much I watch. I will think twice before embarking on a long series or box set, and the temptation to watch just the “next episode in 15 seconds…”, especially late at night.

Have you challenged yourself to do something like this?  “No buy” months  or even a year, are a popular challenge. I might try that sometime – but not just yet.