I am a self-professed workaholic. I get my teeth into something and will work night and day on it, to the exclusion of eating and sleeping in many cases. Since having children, that drive has had to be somewhat tempered, but I still find myself working hard whenever I get the chance.
Up at 4 am with the baby, most of the time I don´t bother going back to bed, I hit the computer and write, work on promoting my blogs and getting more article packs done. During naps, whenever my husband can watch the kids and late at night, I´m hacking away on the keyboard! Even if I find myself stuck for ideas, I surf the net looking for new information instead of turning away.
Until I tried forcing myself to watch TV. Now, most people consider this to be a complete waste of time and it usually is. But there are a few lessons to be learned from taking a break. Here is what I have learned.
You get ideas when you aren´t working. You would be amazed at the article ideas that spring into my head while I´m watching Boom and the Reds with my son or the news with my husband. Sometimes they are related to the program, other times they are just random ideas that pop up.
Laughing is a good stress reliever. It is really difficult not to get stressed out when you are running a home business. Watching a good comedy on the boob tube is just the thing to loosen you up, boost those serotonin levels and make you relax a little.
Kids miss their mom, even if she is right beside them working. This one is kind of sad. My son, Dorian, is 19 months old and he has learned that when I sit down at the computer, I´m in work mode, not truck-driving mode, not tickle mode, but hard work mode. But when I get off the computer for a while and curl up on the bed to watch Discovery Kids with him, he is the happiest little boy in the world! He loves to sit with me and laugh at the antics of cartoon characters and most of the time, we don´t see a single tantrum while we are enjoying a good show together, plus, we often end up having a tickle fight or driving his trucks around instead of watching television, which is even better!
TV reduces frustration levels. I get frustrated every day with various things. My computer gets a virus, my mouse goes on the fritz, an article that I uploaded has vanished. Too much frustration can cause me to blow up at my family, so I have learned that taking a half hour to watch a favorite program can help me calm down and return to the problem ready to face it and beat it, instead of taking it out on my kids or husband.
There´s nothing like a good show to bring a couple together. Most people will agree that television is the bane of their marital existence. But when you have a show that is mutually enjoyed, it can bring the two of you together again. Instead of sitting at your respective computers and not speaking! My husband and I bond over CSI and House, both of which get us talking in the commercial breaks and afterwards, putting together clues and discussing possible outcomes.
And that is what I learned from forcing myself to watch TV. Try it sometime, the mini vacation will be good for you.
This article is being entered in the Middle Zone Musings “What I Learned from Vacations” Group Writing Project.
11 Responses to “What I Learned From Forcing Myself to Watch TV”
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Congratulations, Genesis; give yourself a cookie - yours is the very first entry in this month’s project!
Very good lessons; and from an unexpected source, too. I like that last one - Mrs. MZM and I do that quite often.
Thanks for joining us this month!
Genesis,
You’re so right about this. It’s important to take breaks. Personally, I think that laughter is one of the best stress reducers that there is. I also agree that you that stepping away from work can help you to get ideas about work. At least, that’s the way it is for me.
Robert, thanks for hosting the writing projects, I really enjoy them. I actually had this article ready to go since Friday, I was just waiting to see where to link to.
Laura, watching tv is my release, it really helps me relax before bed. And the ideas are helpful, too! Good to see that someone agrees with me!
Hi there!! I just wanted to take a minute to come by and say thanks for participating in my Mary Kay blog give away. Since you showed interest in Mary Kay products by entering the contest, I would also like to ask, do you already have a consultant who serves you??? If not, I would be honored to have that privilege! I will be hosting an MK Web party (at my Mary Kay Website - http://www.marykay.com/susannereeder) sometime in the next couple of weeks, and I will be posting the invitation on my blog very soon. This will be a “Mystery Hostess” party full of wonderful prizes, so be on the lookout for the all the details including the date and time. Thanks again for your interest. Have a POSITIVELY PINK day!!!
Love and Prayers,
Susanne Reeder
[...] I Learned from… … Forcing Myself to Watch TV, by Genesis at At Home Mom Blog … Small Indulgences, the Four Seasons, and Ice Cream Sandwiches: [...]
Yeah! Who says TV is bad for you? Hurrah for you!
What a great reminder of how we can take mini-breaks throughout the day - we don’t have to wait for a vacation. Sounds like more fun and less stress than an organised holiday too
Good point about the ideas flowing when you’re not working. This is a great way to beat writer’s block too.
Joanna
[...] I Learned from… … Forcing Myself to Watch TV, by Genesis at At Home Mom Blog … Small Indulgences, the Four Seasons, and Ice Cream Sandwiches: [...]
Here’s a tip I learned long ago: When you are in need of a surefire laugh, put your cynicism on hold and watch a few minutes of “America’s Funniest Videos” w/ Tom Bergeron. I laugh out loud at least a few times during each episode, which cannot be said about any other currently broadcast comedy show. An important word of warning: Do not eat while watching “America’s Funniest Videos”; sometimes the laughs come unexpectedly, and choking is well within the realm of possibility at those times.
If I couldn’t experience laughter I swear I would commit suicide because without laughter and love there is no point to life.
Yes, laughter is a very good thing! And, Dan, I LOVE America´s Funniest Home Videos. Another good one is Funniest Animal Videos.