Most of us already know this, but it bears repeating: we can accomplish so much more when we turn off the TV! Confession time: I love watching television and movies. {Eric’s note: The previous sentence is an understatement! ~smile~) If I’m left to my own devices I will find myself in the middle of an Andy Griffith marathon. My attention span does not allow me to simply sit and watch for hours on end, so I usually pair my favorite shows with perusing Facebook, checking e-mails, attempting to write, or looking up gift ideas for people online. Notice I said attempting to write. When I try to accomplish mentally taxing goals while I’m watching TV, it takes me significantly longer (or I give up and put the project off until another time).
The other night, I was sitting in bed with my laptop, kind of… sort of… working on something and the television was blaring in front of me. Finally, I got annoyed. I knew I had not accomplished nearly as much as I’d wanted to accomplish that day and I suspected (ok, I knew!) the television had a lot to do with it. I flipped that sucker off and suddenly words started flowing from my fingers instead of slowly dripping.
I’m all for entertainment. In fact, I struggle to keep entertainment in its rightful place by having fun first and hoping to accomplish my goals later. Unfortunately, it does not work that way. When we prioritize our fun and relaxation first, our goals and necessary tasks get pushed further and further down the list. Before you know it, those household chores, writing assignments, or budget updates all pile up at once causing anxiety and short fuses.
What I’ve found is that I’ve never regretted working ahead or doing unpleasant tasks before pleasure, but I have regretted wallowing in laziness and not achieving the goals I’ve set for myself. When I turn off the noise and remove the distractions from my work areas, I have greater success than when I am determined to surround myself with blinking lights and shiny colors. ~smile~
Such distractions can also deter you from reaching relational goals. Most of us enjoy a good show or movie from time to time, but when shows and movies become a daily routine, we should ask ourselves if we are trading priceless time with our loved ones to become a vegetable in front of a talking box or interactive screen? Is this momentary pleasure worth the time lost? Believe me, I am preaching to myself!
I don’t like thinking about the day when I might have to live life without my precious husband, but should that day come, what will I want to remember about our relationship? Will I treasure memories of us watching television in separate rooms or playing computer games for hours? I’m sure I won’t, but I will cling to memories of our peaceful vacations together, our Bible reading and prayer times before bed, and our meaningful conversations.
So, before you turn on the TV, computer, or iPad… consider the work you have to do and the precious people in your life. Is that reality show really so important? Is beating that next level more important than reaching the next level in your relationship? Like I said, I love entertainment, but it behooves us all to prioritize it below our relationship with God, our families and friends, and our work. Some of the happiest people in the world don’t know who was voted off the island or how Lost ended. ~smile~
Do you find yourself placing entertainment over relationships?