This is part of my Spring Cleaning series that runs on Wednesdays through the end of Spring. In this series, we’ll explore the things that clutter our lives (especially, mental and emotional clutter) and how to let it go.
Today was supposed to be a writing day.
I had one appointment this morning and then the rest of the day free to write.
In my journal this morning, I wrote: “I will not turn the TV on until after work.” (I work from home & for myself, so “work” is more a state of mind than anything.)
But when I got home from my appointment, I was hungry so sat down with a yogurt (Brown Cow cream-top maple flavor. Best. Yogurt. Ever.) And…
I turned on the TV.
And I watched New Girl, last night’s episode of The Voice, half of Monday’s Dancing with the Stars, and some previews for stuff airing next week.
As if that weren’t enough, I had my laptop handy and got stuck in the Facebook-Twitter-Email-Instagram-Facebook-Twitter-Email… loop while I was watching TV.
Holy Brain Fry, Batman.
Hi, my name is Patricia and I’m a tvaholic.
When I was nine, if my sister wanted to know what was on television at 4:30pm (or any other non-school time slot), she would ask me because I could tell her what was on all of the networks, TBS, plus a few other channels. From memory.
Just a little bit cray-cray when it comes to my TV time.
But here’s the thing: I like television. I love being pulled into storylines and watching characters unfold and develop. It’s part entertainment, part escape, and part education as a writer.
But here’s the other thing: too much of a good thing ain’t so good.
No matter how enjoyable or educational or even productive it may be… too much is too much. And too much leads to fuzzy brains, stomach aches, and burnout.
Too much = clutter.
Last week I said that clutter is anything that comes between you and what you want.
And too much TV has gotten in the way of a lot of stuff I wanted today.
So should I give it up completely? Drop TV like he’s a scrub (aslo known as a buster).
Go cold turkey?
Sure… I could do that.
But I don’t want to cut it to zero. Where is the balance in that?
I’d argue that some things aren’t clutter until there’s too much of it. And balance is important to me (not balance as in everything is equal, but balance like where everything adds up to that “aaaahhhh” feeling… you know?).
What do you think?
Can there be a balance with something like TV or is it all or nothing?
What in your life is “too much” and becoming clutter?
P.S. This morning I proclaimed to Facebook and Twitter that if I reach 100 likes on my Facebook page by this Friday, I’ll push way outside my comfort zone (and do something that feels embarrassing). I will post a video of me “being a party” (see: Kid President’s Guide to Being a Party). I’m just 12 likes away, so won’t you help me out and like my page?