Do you watch too much TV? How to reclaim your after-work schedule
When I was a child, my mum and dad had a rule (a few rules actually) but the biggest one was no television during the week. It was a special treat on Friday nights or Saturdays. We didn't argue because we didn't know any different.
Just like the no soft drink rule, I grew up not being too interested in television or soft drink. I was always busy in my spare time creating things or playing fairies.
Since beginning full-time teaching, the reward of coming home to some Netflix and chill was exciting and in my mind, I convinced myself that I deserved it.
The problem with this is that I was spending so much time in the morning doing everything right. From exercising to ticking off my to-do list, meditating, making my bed, drinking lemon water, writing gratitude statements ... that I was completely blowing it in the afternoon by taking a completely different lifestyle approach.
It started off innocent and cute with watching a little bit of a show after dinner however, soon started to rob me of my innate wish to create, explore and be in nature.
Children have the natural tendency to play for hours on end. However, if they are introduced to the television, they quickly become robbed of creativity, imagination and sensory play. This is because they become absorbed in the screen and it interferes with their innate wish to play and explore.
I am constantly learning from children and my definition of pure happiness always leads back to seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
I reflected on the things I use to do instead of watching television when I came home from school. Although mum can't come over and make me a chocolate milkshake every afternoon and it probably wouldn't be appropriate to play fairies on the Burleigh headland. The afternoon after school was full of opportunities and activities. I mean ... the day was just getting started!
Now I am not suggesting that you wear yourself out after work every night. However, I am suggesting having a loose itinerary depending on your mood.
What I have started doing is making sure I do 4 self-care activities every day. In the morning I usually tick off two (surf and write out the 3 things I am looking forward to in the day) and then in the afternoon, I am left with two. I have a list of loose options that I can choose from. I created this list based on all of the things that make me happy and bring me joy.
Afternoon Self-Care Options (pick 2):
- Have a cup of tea and read a book
- Go for a surf
- Write out 3 things you are grateful for
- Do some painting or colouring in
- Go for a walk on the beach with the puppies
- Journal
- Do some yoga and light a candle
- Have a bath
- Meditate
- Do some gardening
- Write some of my book
- Put some music on and cook a wholesome dinner
I have really started valuing my afternoon (after work) time more and rather than writing a strict schedule, my loose options are way more exciting. It also means that I can do things based on my mood and listen to my body more.
I will still allow myself to watch TV (I am learning that the 0 or 100 option doesn't suit my already perfectionistic mindset) however, I am changing my relationship with the little black box.
I am changing my relationship with TV by:
- Sitting at the dinner table to eat dinner (not in front of the tv) (only on movie nights because that is SO fun)<