1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: Today's tip is about how to watch TV wisely. Even 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 1: with the rise of the Internet and social media, people 5 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: still watch a lot of TV. According to the Bureau 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: of Labor Statistics American Time Youth Survey, the average American 7 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: logs two point seven seven hours of TV per day 8 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: as a primary activity. That's just under twenty hours a week, 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: or the equivalent of a part time job. To be sure, 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: this figure includes teenagers and retirees, but even the people 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: we might think of as busiest, people who have jobs 12 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: and kids at home, managed to average almost two hours 13 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: per day. I always think of these numbers when I 14 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: hear people talk about the crazy buzziness of modern society. 15 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: It seems at least some of us have time to 16 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 1: kick up our feet, and honestly, that's fine. I am 17 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: not going to start your morning with a lecture on 18 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: the evils of television or Netflix or any other such service. 19 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: There are tons of amazing shows on these days. I'm 20 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: thrilled to see how many organizations are putting money into 21 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 1: good writing and great plots Instead. I want to talk 22 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: about how you, as a busy person, can incorporate TV 23 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 1: wisely into your life. I want to talk about how 24 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: you can enjoy TV it also have time for the 25 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 1: other amazing things you want to spend your time doing. 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: The first step be choosy. The reason TV fills the 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: bulk of people's leisure time is that it's so easy. 28 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: You don't need to dress up, you don't need to 29 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: work with other people's schedules. But it doesn't have to 30 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: be automatic. In other words, don't watch TV just because 31 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: it's there. Think about which shows most spark joy. To 32 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: borrow a phrase from Marie Condo, one way to winner 33 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: this down is to imagine that you needed to pay, 34 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,919 Speaker 1: say fifteen dollars an hour to watch TV, or whatever 35 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: number feels doable but noticeable to you, something like buying 36 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: a movie ticket. What would clear that bar? What would 37 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: give you that much pleasure? A favorite team's game against 38 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: a close rival, sure, but maybe not too random teams 39 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: that you don't care about. When you have your list, 40 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: then think through your week. When would you like to 41 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: watch these programs? When would work best with your life. 42 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm old enough to remember when people had no choice 43 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: in these matters, and I had to wait all year 44 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: to watch The Wizard of Oz on TV as a kid, 45 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: but now we do have near total time freedom. Actually 46 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: putting planned TV time on your calendar allows you to 47 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: look forward to it and savor that anticipation. Knowing you've 48 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: got your favorite show saved up for Thursday night can 49 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: help you get through a challenging day at work. Finally, 50 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: why is TV watchers recognize this? Everything about TV is 51 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: designed to keep you watching. That's why there are cliffhangers 52 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: at the end of the show. That's why there are 53 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: seguys into the next show. Once the TV or Netflix 54 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: goes on, it's hard to turn it off. That's why 55 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: you wind up falling asleep on the sofa or yanking 56 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: yourself away long after you should. If there's one thing 57 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,119 Speaker 1: I've learned over the years, it's that people don't magically 58 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: develop more willpower. So here's a better idea. If you 59 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: have any other leisure activity you'd like to do other 60 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: than watch TV, do that first. If you like to 61 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: read after your kids go to bed, read for an 62 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: hour and then turn on the TV. If you like 63 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: to do puzzles or a hobby like woodworking or crafts. 64 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: Do that before reaching for the remote. That way, you'll 65 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: get to do your hobby and watch TV. If you 66 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: watch TV first, you'll probably decide that hauling out your 67 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: paints sounds like a lot of bother. You might also 68 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: choose some nights not to turn on the TV. You 69 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: and your partner could choose one night a week to 70 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: have a drink together or make a special dessert. I'm 71 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: always fascinated by how many couples claim they are too 72 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: tired for a couple time in its various manifestations. If 73 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: you don't turn the TV on some nights, you might 74 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: have hours to spend together. What you do at that 75 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: time is up to you. I'd love to hear the 76 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: rules you make for yourself when it comes to TV 77 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: or Netflix or other services like that. As always, you 78 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: can email me at Before Breakfast Podcast at i heeart 79 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: media dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks 80 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: for listening and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 81 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 82 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 83 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast to Pod. 84 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: That's b E. The number four, then Breakfast p o D. 85 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 86 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: podcast at i heeart media dot com that Before Breakfast 87 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 88 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 89 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from 90 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: my heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 91 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.