When I was younger there was a great summer holiday TV programme called Why Don’t You? (subtitled, switch off your TV and go do something more interesting instead). Even at eight the irony of the idea that I loved watching the programme rather than turning it off and doing something more interesting didn’t escape me, but watch I did. I also watched whatever came on next and next (and next).

My summer holiday mornings were invariably spent watching all the BBC had to offer, my mother looking round the door in increasing agitation asking me if I was going to get dressed soon, and why didn’t I go out in the sun with my friends. She clearly didn’t realise (she didn’t have television at home when she was growing up) that there was no one to play with. They were all watching Why Don’t You? Happy (if not terribly creative) times.

Of course back then TV was only broadcast at certain times and there was a limited number of channels. If I wanted to watch the summer holiday programmes I had to watch them when they were on offer. Once they’d finished however, I did tend to go running out into the sun to play, or even got my coloured pencils out and drew. Today’s always-on mulit-channel environment, supplemented by technological marvels like personal video recorders and internet streaming telly, means we can pretty much watch what we want, when we want, anytime and ALL the time.

At eight this might have been a curse (I probably would never have seen the sun or played with my coloured pencils), but today such ubiquitous television is a blessing for me. It can be for you too, if you learn to tame it.

Tame your TV watching

1. Pick one or two programmes your REALLY want to watch.
2. Record, download or borrow/rent/ buy on DVD or video.
3. Pick a time that’s right for you to watch you programme(s).
4. Watch your programme(s) at the exclusion of all other activities. Make an event out of it. Savour it. Enjoy it!

The advantages of watching TV like this

1. You’re in charge of your TV watching, it won’t fill your time and leave you with that “what have I done today?” feeling.
2. Because you’re placing limits on your TV watching you’ll enjoy it more.
3. Limiting your TV watching is going to free up time and energy for other things. Maybe creative things. Not convinced? Watch this short talk by Clay Shirky on, what he calls cognitive surplus.