{"id":13481,"date":"2026-08-02T23:48:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T03:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/99-fun-things-to-do-instead-of-watching-tv\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T23:48:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T03:48:06","slug":"99-fun-things-to-do-instead-of-watching-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/99-fun-things-to-do-instead-of-watching-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"99 Fun Things to Do Instead of Watching TV"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

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Ever find yourself turning on the TV out of habit rather than intention?<\/p>\n

There’s nothing wrong with relaxing in front of your favorite show now and then, but it’s easy for hours to disappear without realizing how much time has passed. Those hours could be spent learning a new skill, connecting with loved ones, improving your health, or simply doing something that brings you genuine joy.<\/p>\n

The good news is that replacing even a portion of your screen time with meaningful activities can have a big impact. You might discover a new hobby, make progress toward an important goal, or create memories with family and friends that are far more rewarding than another episode of a show.<\/p>\n

You don’t have to give up television completely to enjoy these benefits. Simply being more intentional about how you spend your free time can help you feel more productive, energized, and fulfilled.<\/p>\n

In this article, you’ll discover 99 fun, productive, and meaningful things to do instead of watching TV. And don’t forget to download the free Self-Care Planner at the end of the article to help you create healthy routines and make more intentional use of your time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Cut your cable subscription.<\/h2>\n

If you are under
\ncontract, you may have to pay a fee to do this. In the end, it is worth it. You
\nare buying back your time that can be spent on reaching your goals instead of
\nwatching TV all day.<\/p>\n

2. Make sure that the TV is not
\nthe focal point of your family room.<\/h2>\n

You don’t want the
\ntelevision to be the center of attention. Instead, make the furniture conducive
\nto conversation and interaction with each other.<\/p>\n

3. Set TV rules for both adults
\nand kids.<\/h2>\n

If you and your kids each have a show that you truly enjoy and use as an outlet to \u201cget away,\u201d don’t deprive yourself of enjoying that. Just set some limits on your television watching time, and make sure to stick to them.<\/p>\n

4. Monitor and track how much
\ntime you watch TV every day.<\/h2>\n

Make sure you don’t
\nlet time get away from you when you are watching TV. One show may easily lead
\nto a second, which can then lead to an entire afternoon in front of the
\ntelevision. Be strict about how much TV you are watching, and know when it is
\ntime to turn it off.<\/p>\n

5. Limit and schedule your TV
\nviewing every day.<\/h2>\n

If there are only one
\nor two shows that you enjoy, pick the exact time of day that you will spend
\nwatching them. Perhaps make this an after-dinner ritual, and get in the habit
\nof keeping the television off outside of these hours.<\/p>\n

6. Hide your TV.<\/h2>\n

Keep your television
\nout of sight and out of mind. If you don’t allow it to tempt you during the
\nday, you are less likely to waste your time and end up watching it. Keep other
\nthings out in the open, such as books, magazines, and games that you can play
\nwith your family.<\/p>\n

7. Set an alarm when you watch
\na particular show.<\/h2>\n

If you choose to watch
\nyour preferred show after dinner, set an alarm to begin the show, and be sure
\nto also set an alarm for when the show is over. This will keep you on schedule
\nand not allow you to go over your allotted amount of time for watching TV.<\/p>\n

8. Eat meals with the TV turned
\noff.<\/h2>\n

It is never good to eat in front of the television because you are more likely to mindlessly eat a lot more than you intended. It also causes you to be distracted from both the television and your food, so you are not fully focusing on either. <\/p>\n

Take the time to sit at a table and focus on your meal during mealtime, and fully enjoy the television that you choose to watch.<\/p>\n

9. Create a TV-viewing schedule
\nwith the family.<\/h2>\n

Everyone in your family likely enjoys different television shows. Don’t sit around and watch what everyone else enjoys while you could be spending your time doing things that could help you reach your long-term goals. <\/p>\n

Instead, create a schedule so everyone has their specific time to watch the shows that they enjoy, and then pass the remote on to the next person.<\/p>\n

Resource: Organize your family life with some of these great family life organization apps<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. Use the TiVo to your
\nadvantage.<\/h2>\n

Not only will this
\nallow you to watch your favorite television shows at your convenience, it will
\nalso let you fast forward through the commercials. This can help save you the
\ntime that is wasted on advertisements.<\/p>\n

11. Commit to reading at least
\n50 pages of a book before watching TV.<\/h2>\n

By the time you are done the reading, chances are that you will not want to watch television. You may get so into the book that you want to continue reading it. Reading can also help you garner success because it continues to build up your bank of knowledge.<\/p>\n

12. Don\u2019t start any new shows.<\/h2>\n

Once you start a show, you may get so into it that you don’t want to stop watching it. Stop this temptation of binge-watching television by making the decision to not begin watching a new series.<\/p>\n

13. Only turn on the TV to
\nwatch a particular show.<\/h2>\n

This is similar to not giving in to the temptation of window shopping. If you know exactly what you want to watch when you turn on the television, you will not be tempted to \u201cshop around\u201d for other shows to watch. When you watch television, do it with intent. <\/p>\n

Here’s where a online streaming subscription may come in handy. With one, you can choose to watch only selected shows, such as the best family shows on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You don’t need a
\ntelevision in every room. Keep just one room dedicated to watching TV in your
\nhouse, and leave the rest of the space available for more constructive
\nactivities.<\/p>\n

15. Cut down on channels.<\/h2>\n

The fewer channels you
\nhave, the fewer you will watch. This will also help to save on your monthly
\nbill.<\/p>\n

16. Hide the remote control.<\/h2>\n

If you don’t walk past
\nthe remote control every time you walk into the living room, you won’t be
\nreminded that the TV is there, waiting to help you procrastinate. Hide the
\nremote control away and fill your side tables with books instead.<\/p>\n

17. Use the TV timer.<\/h2>\n

This will automatically turn off the television after a certain amount of time. Set it for 30 minutes or an hour, and once the television is off, don’t turn it back on.<\/p>\n

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