from our upcoming book Our Secret Book of Benefits
![We killed our TV in 2013.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/10fb37_cd78bd89500842ab8d41dccb004c31b7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_693,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/10fb37_cd78bd89500842ab8d41dccb004c31b7~mv2.jpg)
I got curious about the effects of television on human brain in 2011. I studied a lot about this topic. I found that television is just a government directed propaganda machine. I also realized that television watching is considered as "mindless," "addictive," "brainwashing," "passive," "gogglebox" (slang), "idiot box" (slang), "time-wasting," "vapid," "violent," "sensationalist," "manipulative," "over-stimulating," "distracting," "unhealthy," "antisocial," and "lowbrow."
![I found that thousands of research works have been published, proving that TV makes us dumb.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/10fb37_81f1048362b34374abc85ba99e1a9837~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_496,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/10fb37_81f1048362b34374abc85ba99e1a9837~mv2.jpg)
We deliberately discontinued owning and watching the television from 2013. Television cessation, or quitting television, offered a range of benefits:
Increased Free Time: By eliminating television viewing, we freed up significant chunks of time that were spent on more fulfilling activities.
Improved Physical Health:
Sitting for watching TV is a number 1 cause for gaining weight. Eliminating TV, automatically reduced our sedentary behavior, leading to weight loss and improved cardiovascular health.
We gained more time for our daily physical activities like exercise, sports, and outdoor activities.
Enhanced Mental Well-being:
Our exposure to negativity and stress-inducing news and programs was eliminated.
Our sleep quality was improved due to reduced screen time before bed.
Our focus and concentration improved.
Improved Relationships: We got more time for quality interactions with family and friends.
Increased Creativity: We got free time to explore hobbies, learn new skills, and pursue creative endeavors.
Reduced Exposure to Advertising: Our exposure to manipulative advertising was reduced, which helped us in developing mindful spending habits.
Greater Awareness of the World: Television instills a narrow and one-sided narrative of the world! By ditching the TV, we gained a more nuanced understanding of current events and societal issues.
Important Considerations:
Finding Alternatives: It's important to find healthy and engaging alternatives to television viewing to fill the void. We chose outdoor activities.
Gradual Reduction: Abruptly quitting television can be challenging. Consider a gradual reduction in viewing time to ease the transition.
Television cessation is a powerful tool for improving overall well-being and reclaiming control over your time and attention.
Ciao
Dr. Madhukar Dama, Savitri Dama, Adhya, Anju
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