At the beginning of last year, I started my blog Finding My Simple Life because I felt overwhelmed by the constant busyness and distractions in my life. I longed to simplify things and, on top of that, improve my finances.
A while ago, I wrote about cutting back to just one streaming subscription as a way to save money and reduce decision fatigue. But as I continued on my journey to simplify, something shifted. I began replacing my TV time with reading—particularly in the evenings. Last year, I devoured finance books, and this year, I’ve focused on parenting, simplicity, and business books. Of course, I still indulge in fiction as well. (Jen Turano books are my fav)
As I swapped television for books, I began to notice something wonderful: I felt calmer and more relaxed at the end of the day. Nighttime reading became a soothing activity—unless, of course, I was reading a thrilling page-turner (which has the opposite effect!). There’s something about it that felt better!
For years, I’d come home from work, plop on the couch, and watch TV to “unwind.” But, more often than not, I ended up feeling more drained. Reflecting on my day’s events was already a lot to process, but adding the emotional rollercoaster of whatever I was watching made it even more overwhelming. TV shows are designed to keep you hooked by making you deeply care about the characters and their stories. While that can be entertaining, it often left me feeling more drained.
Last year, I also focused more on doing the things I truly love. TV was not on my list of Things that I Love, except fantastic (and tacky) Christmas movies. My husband and I cut back our TV time to just one night a week. When we do watch a movie, we turn it into a date night—making fresh popcorn, tidying up the house, and picking a movie in advance. We make it an event, something to look forward to. And I absolutely love watching TV this way—it’s something special for us. Though, I must admit, my poor husband suffered through my love of Christmas movies last December. Hehe.
Benefits of watching less TV
- More time for other interests: Cutting back on TV has given me the space to focus on hobbies, personal growth, and the things that truly bring me joy.
- Save on subscription costs: Watching less means needing fewer streaming services, which has been an easy way to cut expenses.
- Greater mental clarity: I feel more present and engaged in my daily life, without the mental clutter of too much screen time.
- Quality over quantity: By reducing TV time, I’ve learned to really enjoy and look forward the moments when we do watch a fun movie. It’s no longer just a mindless habit.
My next focus is being more mindful about my phone use and finding ways to cut back.
Conclusion
This is just my personal journey—what’s worked for me might not be for everyone. But simplifying my life, and cutting back on TV, has helped me create a sense of peace and focus that I didn’t realize I was missing.