Happy people watch less television: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/health/research/20happy.html?em
The study doesn't say if watching television makes you more unhappy or if being unhappy makes you watch television. But I say, give it a go - turn off your TV - see if you aren't more happy. I think you'll find that there's so many other things to do. Life is certainly more interesting without TV.
When we moved here, we didn't get ourselves signed up for television. We thought we'd try it out for a while and see how it goes. Now, nearly 18 months later, we have no desire to get it. We have set up a flat screen so that we can watch DVDs. And we do watch a few shows on-line. And of course, there's Russell's addiction to YouTube (which is kind of like watching TV). And we like it that way. Life seems so much more relaxing.
By coincidence, we live next door to probably the only other family in Dubai without television. Juliette was telling me that other school mums always say to her, "Oh, I wish we didn't have TV." Hmmm - that's not so difficult. If you don't want it, unplug it.
Try it for a month, you'll be amazed. You'll have games nights, you'll read, you'll make a nice dinner, you'll spend more time with the kids at bed time, you'll have a glass of wine with your spouse - it's liberating.
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I totally disagree with this assessment. You must take into account a person's lifestyle, age and health. You don't watch a lot of TV because you travel a lot and you have an exciting job. Most people are not financially able to have that kind of lifestyle. Some people are homebound because of job circumstances or health problems,and also if the weather is bad. Sometimes TV and the Internet is all they have to be "worldly." In summer, I don't watch a lot of TV, but there isn't a whole lot to do in Oak Creek in the wintertime (I'm not into outdoor winter sports). Also, define "happiness." What makes one person happy doesn't necessary make another person happy.
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