Bad Effects of Watching TV and the Healthy Benefits of Watching Less TV
You probably watch too much television. That is a blanket statement, sure, but odds are it is right on target. The average person watches between 4 and 10 hours of TV each and every day. That’s way too much, according to the TV watching experts.
Watching too much TV lead to a sedentary lifestyle that reeks havoc on our health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children 2 years old and under should watch no TV. Yes, that’s right – no TV.
Children, teens and adults are recommended to limit their TV viewing to less than 2 hours each day. These recommendations are made because staring at “The Idiot Box” has been linked to lower communication skills, antisocial behavior, altered brain structure, overweight and obesity and poor grades in school.
How Much TV Should We Watch?
Have a goal this week to limit your TV to just 2 hours per day and see how you do. You don’t have to cut TV out completely, but it is a good idea to set limits.
These are scientifically recorded dangers of watching TV, as opposed to engaging in some healthier activity, which are why you should instead choose the following 5 benefits of watching less television.
1 – You Won’t Sit as Much
You were not to intended to sit for as long as you do. Research shows that sitting is deadly, leading to a long list of unhealthy conditions that cause pain, and shorten your life. Most television is viewed sitting down, so when you stop watching as much brain-rotting TV, you are standing and active more, which is a good thing.
2 – Your Brain Becomes Healthier
As highlighted above, staring at a television set actually causes a change in your brain chemistry. It is not a healthy one, either. The negative mental consequences of staring at an electronic screen, television or otherwise, include decreased memory, a weakened ability to plan, organize and take action, weaker brain functioning and other neurological problems.
3 – You Will Find Out You Have a Lot More Free Time Than You Thought
Are you always complaining that there are not enough hours in the day to get things done? You might be wrong. Take out the nearly 34 hours that the television viewing habits monitoring company Nielsen says you are spending in front of the boob tube each week, and you have more than 1 full day of extra time on your hands.
4 – You Will Begin Making up Your Own Mind, and Forming Your Own Belief System
Television is a one-way form of communication. People you have never met, that have views and beliefs vastly different from yours, create the content that you consume.
Watch enough TV, and you begin to lose the ability to form your own thoughts, opinions and beliefs. You might just start believing what you are watching.
5 – You Will Stop Feeling Inadequate
TV creates unreal unrealistic expectations. Most human beings are not perfect – slim, trim, super sexy, incredibly smart, abundantly wealthy and successful, which is how television paints the world. Television advertisers want you to feel inadequate, so you will purchase their products that promise miracle results.
What should you do instead of Watching TV?
Try and become a more active person and you will certainly reap the health benefits. Start small and slowly if you have to – but get up and get moving!
Get out and get walking! Read more about exercise makes you a happier person.
Find a form of exercise that you love. Maybe take up hiking in the woods.
Spend more time reading good books.
Take a class on something you’ve always wanted to learn.
Try House Walking! The Benefits of House Walking!