A Year Without TV

A reclamation of quality time.

A little over a year ago, my wife and I did something that our friends and family found genuinely confusing: we got rid of our only TV.

It wasn’t a snap judgment. It was a joint realization that the glowing rectangle in our living room had a grip on us. We found ourselves defaulting to it — sitting down “for a minute” and staying up three hours later, having accomplished nothing but consuming a few more sitcoms or a game I wouldn’t remember a week later.

We grew up in the era of “constant TV.” For nearly our entire lives, the television was the heartbeat of the home. Giving it up felt like losing a limb at first. But a year later, the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

Reclaiming the “Dead Time”

The most shocking thing about removing a TV isn’t how much you miss it — it’s how much time you suddenly have. When you remove the easiest, lowest-effort option for entertainment, your brain is forced to find something else to do.

In the time I used to spend watching reruns and sports highlights, I’ve filled my life with actual substance. I’m playing in adult sports leagues. I’m finding solace in doing handiwork around the house. I’m reading, playing Sudoku, and learning how to cook real food.

Most importantly, I’m spending quality time with my wife and son that isn’t mediated by a screen. And I’ve finally found the quiet, uninterrupted time I needed to devote to my faith.

The New Friday Night

We aren’t monks. We still enjoy a good story. But now, media is a choice, not a default. On Friday nights, my wife and I might host a “movie night” for the two of us on our laptop. It’s intentional. It’s an event. Because it isn’t constantly available on a 55-inch screen in the center of the room, we actually value it more.

A Quiet Rebellion

I don’t think I’m alone in this. I believe we are seeing a quiet trend among younger Americans who are slowly turning away from hyper-addictive technology. We’ve reached a saturation point. We’ve realized that being “entertained” for four hours a night is a poor trade for our hobbies, our marriages, and our peace of mind. Essentially, the real things in life that matter.

TV and media are designed to be addictive. For me, the hook was sitcoms and sports. They provide a sense of “comfort” that acts like a sedative, keeping you from pondering your life or chasing your goals.

Reclaiming that space on my wall was about more than just aesthetics. It was about reclaiming my agency. It turns out that when you stop watching other people live their lives on a screen, you finally have the time to start living your own.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.