It's Turn Off TV Life

Of all the things for me to miss writing about--it's Turn Off TV Week and we're already half way through it. Of course, for me it's been Turn Off TV Winter and Spring. I was reminded about this on public radio (who else would remind me, the Today Show?) on Monday but haven't had a chance to write about it.

It's interesting, the organization behind this is no longer just about turning off the TV--it's sponsored by the Center for Screentime Awareness. I understand. I used to complain that I could get sucked into a whole Saturday in front of reruns of A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, but I have also gotten sucked into clicking link after random link all day long. But I'll trade internet addiction for TV addiction any day.

It's only fitting that the CSA has a terrible website. The fact that this week is Turn Off TV Week is not emblazoned on their homepage--you have to make two clicks before you can find out that it is scheduled for April 21-27, 2008.

What more can I say about turning off the TV other than what I wrote about in my initial posts about why I quit TV and what it was like for the first few weeks? I think some people can have a healthy relationship with TV but I'm not one of them. If I could watch TV, I would try to follow these nine tips to make TV-watching a source of happiness. But I don't want to go beyond the rules I made for myself--they allow me to structure my media exposure without going overboard in either direction.

My name is Steadof, and I have been sober of TV for 109 days.

Turning it Off: TV and Other Addictions

On January 5, 2008, I decided to stop watching TV and start writing a blog. It hasn't always been easy, and I have my rules of exception, but I'm glad I did it. This is an index of the journey so far.

It's not that I hate TV, it's that I love it too much
Other ways of procrastinating: Why I quit TV
I'm not one of those people: The rules for watching or not watching TV

Rehab
Breakthroughs: The first time I didn't reach for the remote
TV Withdrawl Kicking In:The cravings

The benefits of giving up TV
Fringe Benefits: What I could gain by giving up TV
Six Weeks Without TV and Loving It: Glad I did it

Things I'll miss about TV
No More Nights on the Couch Together?: Missing the social aspect of watching TV
Taking a Break from all your Worries: The need for escapism

Internet Addiction
Old Habits, New Habits: Uh, oh. How I might become addicted to the internet

Breaking the Cycle

Short post tonight. Kids of TV addicts grow up to be TV addicts. Here's an article from Salon on one woman's attempt to break the cycle.