Completed 30 days of no Tv News

[seeker5]

I had gotten into watching several hours of tv news and I decided a little over a month ago to do a 30 day trial of no tv news after listening to the podcast about interupting your patterns. I succeeded . I'll continue this habit.

Soon, I want to move on to no internet news, but I'm thinking of how to go about it. What will I replace internet news with?

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Do you still want to know the news? Or replace it with something different?

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Do you still want to know the news? Or replace it with something different?

I need something else to fill my time up with when I need to relax/distract myself. Reading the news online now is one of my main ways to change the focus from my job.

[norbert]

Good job, seeker5!

I've given up all kinds of news a year ago, TV shows 6 months ago (it isn't plugged in at all anymore) and never read internet news.

Instead, I'm listening to audiobooks, making more music and coding more free stuff for the web.

I don't miss the news at all. I live in my own little world. However, it became hard to talk about common topics. Insterestingly, I began looking for unique attributes instead of the common things in people. Started also to love people who don't fit in. They're interesting. The TV watchers are boring as hell.

Regarding the internet news replacement, do something creative that you love!

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by norbert

Good job, seeker5!

I've given up all kinds of news a year ago, TV shows 6 months ago (it isn't plugged in at all anymore) and never read internet news.

Instead, I'm listening to audiobooks, making more music and coding more free stuff for the web.

I don't miss the news at all. I live in my own little world. However, it became hard to talk about common topics. Insterestingly, I began looking for unique attributes instead of the common things in people. Started also to love people who don't fit in. They're interesting. The TV watchers are boring as hell.

Regarding the internet news replacement, do something creative that you love!

That's interesting - thanks for the advice. Congratulation on being news-free! What kind of unique attributes in people have you started looking and finding?

Also, I'm curious, do you spend much time in nature? The reason I'm asking is because Steve P. mentioned that as one way he was able to break the news-addiction.

[Amadeus]

This is a great goal. News is so addictive.

[cjbart]

In December I issued the Challenge to our listeners on the Focus Society to forgo any News for 30 Days and I promised Increase....

Well all of those who acepted the challenge found Increase in Action, and Cash Flow.

You can't lose when you are filled with positive energy, created from your THOUGHTS and not those of negative Talking Heads....foisted on us by the MOB.

Besides that, there is nothing "the News" can relate to anyone that affects their well-being and Success pattern.

You Life is in YOUR Control, do not allow yourself to be Socially Sorted

[Akashic_Librarian]

I gave up the news ages ago. Its just depressing government propaganda, we are all better off without it.

Viva la TV revolution!

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

I gave up the news ages ago. Its just depressing government propaganda, we are all better off without it.

Viva la TV revolution!

Cool! Did you have to give up internet news too? If so, do you have any tips on how you did it?

[maclinda]

I gave up TV news 30 YEARS ago, and haven't looked back. It's all mindless drivel, and seldom correct in described the events.

I occasionally look at an internet news item if it looks interesting. They generally have a little human interest aspect, but again I don't count on the accuracy of any "news" item.

You're right, it does make it difficult to converse with boring people who live their lives in front of the tube. I talk about what I've done, they talk about what they've seen.

I prefer my life.

[n_vizion]

I used to get up first thing in the morning and turn on the radio to catch up on the news (I do not watch television). The number of murders in our city was rising so the news media would focus on that fact intensely. The result was me feeling unsafe in my own home. I would carry around that negativity and fear with me all day. Since I've stopped, life has started again. Instead of the news in the morning, I'll medidate or update my blog.

[Gemini15]

I rarely watch TV news and take little notice of internet news. Weekdays I try and read the daily newspaper. I don't read it cover to cover. I just look at the headlines and read the article only if it interests me.

That way I am still up to date of what is happing in the world and it doesn't take up much of my time. Often reading the headline and looking at the picture is enough to explain the article.

[John Hill]

The best thing you will ever do is say No More TV, it changed my life.

John

[Kaspian]

I haven't owned a TV in ~10 years. If it's on when I'm at a friend's house, I'm often shocked at how obnoxious it is, so I don't miss it at all. I can watch movies on my computer if that's what I'm in the mood for. I generally avoid news on the internet, though sometimes I'll choose to read specific news articles in the newspaper.

[seeker5]

These are pretty neat affirmation of the no-news at all. I've found one potential alternative for internet news for me - reading businessweek.com and other business website. Since I'm a business student, that would help out a lot. Business news tend to be informative, and not negative from what I've seen so far. At least online business news - not TV Business news which seems to be for traders.

[rene_stpierre]

I've given up news on TV and the Web about 6 months ago. I was spending a good 90 minutes per day doing this.

Now I use the time to read and listen to MP3's on Personal Development and work on reaching my goals.

René

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

I gave up the news ages ago. Its just depressing government propaganda, we are all better off without it.

Viva la TV revolution!

Same here, and I hate it when my girlfriend has it on... Why on earth do I need to know how many people have been murdered, which houses have burned down, and what new awful medical conditions are plaguing the country on any given day? This referring to just local news, "national" news, usually concerning which celebrity is dating which/in jail now along with a "terror alert update" is even more of a joke.

[Chet]

I don't own a tv and rarely look at news on the net. The downside is that sometimes you miss important stuff ... I had no idea about rain and floods in UK until it was posted here. Heck a whole new war could start and I wouldn't know, too much ignoring the world is not really a good thing. Now to figure out a way to be reasonably informed and avoid the drivel ...

[Brendon Colby]

Hey congrats on making it 30 days TV news free! I gave up all news over a year ago or more now (including digg, fark, newspapers, TV news, Daily Show, Colbert, "alternative news", Slashdot etc.). I was completely obsessed over the 2004 election and read every article I could on it (absolutely disgusting, I tell you). I didn't realize that it was probably contributing to my depression and anxiety! At first when I quit ALL news, I felt "weird." That's the best way I can describe it. I have almost no idea what's going on right now and I'm totally OK with that. I know what I need to know, which seems to be a fraction of what's reported on in the news! I'm confident that if there is a piece of information I need it will present itself to me in some way. I've cut out a tremendous stream of negativity from my life and feel much better for it!

Also - as of today, I'm TV free. I'll probably still watch movies for now but I've just felt so disgusted and bored with TV (or maybe the act of watching TV?) and paying $120 a month for cable. I think it might have something to do with all the reading I've been doing too!

[jwz]

After I cut down on my tv-watching (I only watch tv once a week or so with my family), I too began looking at brain-dead tv-watching the same way.

It feels like ppl are getting a cord plugged into their necks and are set to 'stand by' for hours while their brains are filled with useless junk. Really.. Disgusting.

[llong]

Congrats for setting a goal, and acheiving it!

[seeker5]

Brendon Colby and llong - thanks.

[artic123]

I gave up TV for the longest time and then fell ill. For a month I just layed on the couch and watched really stupid programs. I now know how to decorate my house with ply wood, make new clothing from ratty old garments, know how many people died in Philadelphia this year, watched the most untalented amateurs trying to win money; am I as a smart as a 5th grader--duh, Yes.
I'm going to do it again today.

But I would miss my Larry King, Charlie Rose, Jon Stewart, PBS. I just may have to make some concessions. Would this be bad?

[Ak47]

^5 years without television (except for non-commercial interrupted movies) except at others' homes.

i check news on the internet usually- if i find something interesting on one site, i'll try to find articles about it from multiple sites so i'm not only exposed to a single bias, but many. :P

[Erock]

I really don't think TV is that terrible in moderation. When Steve finished his no TV for 30 days trial, and said he wasn't going to watch TV again because it didn't add any value to his life, it kind of made me wonder, does every second of our lives have to be applied to our greater purpose and continually adding value to our lives? Can't we just relax once in awhile?

Don't get me wrong, I don't watch that much TV. Lately I've been watching Wimbledon everyday, and sometimes I watch Seinfeld, but that's about all. I really don't see the value in abstaining from it permanently like it's a drug that's doing damage to your body or something.

Erock

[Chinese Dragon]

Originally Posted by Erock

does every second of our lives have to be applied to our greater purpose and continually adding value to our lives? Can't we just relax once in awhile?

Well, relaxation IS benifital to our life, but the problem is TV's amazing yet terrible ability to suck people in for hours. Not only that, but has anyone ever noticed how after you watch a few hours of TV, you feel very drained of energy and feel the need to relax AGAIN? And if you look at the big picture TV really has no valuable content at all...

That's why I want to give up TV too, it's disgusting how the average person spends 19% of their time on this planet in front of the tube...

Congrats to everyone who completes the no tv for 30 day challenge, you've effectively increased your time on this planet by 24%.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Erock

I really don't think TV is that terrible in moderation. When Steve finished his no TV for 30 days trial, and said he wasn't going to watch TV again because it didn't add any value to his life, it kind of made me wonder, does every second of our lives have to be applied to our greater purpose and continually adding value to our lives? Can't we just relax once in awhile?

Absolutely. But TV is very, very poor relaxation - if it's even relaxation at all! I often feel more tired after watching television.

When Steve said that "TV didn't add value to his life" I didn't take that as meaning that he didn't relax but that he had found much more effective ways to relax than television. (IIRC, he substituted walks in nature for watching the news).

Incidentally, note that relaxation and recreation is a key component of a greater purpose. Any great purpose will take a long time to complete and you need to keep both your body and mind as healthy as possible over that time.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Erock

I really don't think TV is that terrible in moderation. When Steve finished his no TV for 30 days trial, and said he wasn't going to watch TV again because it didn't add any value to his life, it kind of made me wonder, does every second of our lives have to be applied to our greater purpose and continually adding value to our lives? Can't we just relax once in awhile?

Since I have completed the no TV-news for 30 days, I pretty much have stopped watching TV altogether. However, there are some shows that I feel add value to myself - such as the Apprentice and Survivor so when those two shows come on, I will probably watch them. Until then I'm sure I'll rarely watch TV.

As for the relaxation, I dunno, but I feel more relaxed now then I have in years.

[Brad Isaac]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I had gotten into watching several hours of tv news and I decided a little over a month ago to do a 30 day trial of no tv news after listening to the podcast about interupting your patterns. I succeeded . I'll continue this habit.

Soon, I want to move on to no internet news, but I'm thinking of how to go about it. What will I replace internet news with?

How has no tv news affected your attitude and optimism?

[Keith]

Originally Posted by seeker5

However, there are some shows that I feel add value to myself - such as the Apprentice and Survivor so when those two shows come on, I will probably watch them. Until then I'm sure I'll rarely watch TV.

I'm intrigued as to why you feel these shows add value? I always found they promoted a "screw over the other guy to get ahead yourself" mentality that really only applies to simplistic artificial situations such as sports.

P.S. Yes, this is an aside.