No-TV November. Also, Confessions of an Addict.

So, hey blog, I missed you.
I have an embarrassing and almost astounding confession to make.

I work as a web developer, and I recently started watching TV while I work, because I liked having something else going on in the background. Then I started watching TV when I wasn't working. Then I started watching TV when I should have been sleeping.

During the month of October, I watched all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls, all 9 seasons of the Office, and a smattering of other shows. This morning I added it all up and, if my math is right (and we all know how I am with math...) I spent over 350 hours, or about 15 days watching TV.

I SPENT HALF OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER WATCHING TV.

THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE THE TIME I SPENT DOING ANYTHING ELSE, INCLUDING SLEEPING.

(Work and sleep each come out to roughly 160 hours)

This doesn't even include movies, which I watched a fair amount of, especially because I was trying to get a certain boy to cuddle with me.

(Which didn't work out, by the way. On an unrelated note, I have dubbed 2014 the Year of the Friend Zone)

I've heard admitting you have a problem is the first step.

The crazy thing is, I didn't really notice. I was doing lots of other things as well. I was more social than usual this month, I went on some great adventures, I read some great books, I painted. I talked to friends about the TV shows they were watching, and no alarm bell in my head ever went off that said we are a TV addicted society. I felt like I was being a normal 20-something. I didn't feel like others were more productive or successful than me. But can you imagine what else I could've done with that extra 350 hours?

I knew that watching TV wasn't the best thing I could be doing as I was doing it, but I only started to realize what a serious problem it was just this week. I noticed that I didn't like to be doing ANYTHING without TV going on in the background. Remember when I first got back from my mission, and I couldn't handle all the noise? I didn't like it if a TV was on in the house. I didn't turn on the radio in the car. I was shocked by all the NOISE.

This last week, I would turn the TV on almost right when I got up. I was proud of myself if I didn't start until I got to work. I could watch it on my phone in the bus. If I was watching something in my room and decided to make myself some lunch, I would carry my laptop with me into the kitchen. I would watch it while I ate.
I even (I'm ashamed as I'm writing this) would bring my laptop with me to the bathroom, so my tv show could be playing as I showered or brushed my teeth. Because heaven forbid I have to wait five minutes to discover what Lorelai said to Luke.

Last Monday night, Elder Kopischke of the Seventy was in the area and gave a special fireside for all the YSA. It was amazing, and I loved it. One of the things I left the fireside thinking was that I needed to start planning again the way I did on the mission - with brief nightly planning to go over what I'd gotten done and what I'd do the next day, and weekly planning sessions to set goals and re-evaluate. I loved the planning part of my mission, I loved how much I got done, and Monday night I decided I wanted to start that up again.

I tried to hold my first weekly planning Thursday morning, and found that I could not concentrate to save my life. I wanted to have the TV on, but I knew that would kill all hopes for an effective planning session, so I tried playing music and talks. But when I did this I couldn't sit down and focus, and when I couldn't focus I'd jump up and do something random. I'd get a snack from the kitchen, pick up things around my room. I brushed the hairs out of my shag carpet and came up with an impressively-sized hairball.

I've decided to take drastic measures to purge myself from all of this TV watching. So this month I'm celebrating No-TV November. No TV, no movies.

I blocked my TV watching sites from my computer and deleted their apps on my phone. Jaime's going to be my accountability buddy, I have to report each day and if I give in and watch TV I owe her $500. I had to make it an amount that would hurt, because I have become incredibly bad at self-discipline, and I could see myself giving in for just about any reason. Knowing that giving in will cost me 500 bucks will hopefully stop me. I guess we'll see how deep my self-destructive streak really runs.

I haven't come up with a good prize if I do go the whole month without TV. I like to think that a month without TV will be a reward in itself... But also I like prizes. Feel free to give suggestions.

Wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.

Because I know that at this point you're on the edge of your seats.