One Surprising but Easy Way to Boost Your Writing Productivity

I had the good fortune to hear humor writer Chuck Sambuchino speak at a writer’s conference several years ago.

And I’ll never forget how he closed his speech.

He was sharing some writing and productivity advice based on what he’d learned over the years, and after his wrap-up, he added one final thought.

I can’t remember his exact words now, but the gist of his message was this: If you really want to succeed as a writer, do one thing—make better use of the “off” button on your television remote.

It’s easy to pass off the recommendation as cliché. Yeah yeah, our parents all told us to limit our TV-watching.

And seriously, it’s all those other people that the advice applies to anyway.

I urge you to keep track of how much TV (or videos or streamed shows) you watch in a week—not to guilt you or judge you in any way, but to help you get a realistic picture of how much this one habit may be affecting your life and creativity.

You might be surprised. Either way, it can be extremely helpful to follow Chuck’s advice and turn that TV off more often. Here’s why.

Americans Watching an Average of 4-5 Hours of Television a Day

According to the latest statistics, Americans watch an average of about 4 hours of television per day. A Nielsen report puts that number even higher, at five hours, adding that the hours increase as we age, reaching more than seven hours a day after the age of 65.

The same report found that in addition to that, the average American spends another hour using the Internet on a computer, and over an hour on a smartphone.

Nielsen’s most recent 2018 report shows that U.S. adults are spending more than 11 hours a day—about two-thirds of their waking time—consuming some sort of media, including TV, DVDs, radio, apps on smartphones and tablets, and the Internet, with most of that time watching TV and using smartphones.

It’s so easy to turn on the television no matter what we’re doing. Families have it on during meals, while doing household chores, in the evening after work, and to wake up in the morning. Often it’s simply there in the background, like it is these days in airports, restaurants, and doctor’s offices—even tire shops.

So what is all this television watching doing to us? Unfortunately, the findings aren’t good.

1. Lots of TV Can Make Writers Gain Weight

A number of studies have linked television watching to weight gain, with the more hours watched, the more weight gained. No big leap there. While watching, we’re usually sitting passively, not moving—no worry of burning any extra calories.

We also tend to snack while watching, and it’s mindless snacking, which means we don’t really register how much we’re eating. We’re absorbed in what we’re watching, which makes it even more likely we won’t recognize the cues the body gives telling us we’ve eaten enough.

Worse, those snacks aren’t typically the healthy kind. We’re not chomping down on veggies and cut-up fruit, but more likely to reach for high-sugar, high-fat options.

Some studies show that not only does excess TV-watching lead to weight gain, but it can also make weight-related health problems more likely. An analysis of the Nurses Health Study, in which researchers followed more than 50,000 middle-aged women for six years, showed that for every two hours spent watching TV, the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and early death increased by 20, 15, and 13 percent, respectively.

What’s doubly concerning is this trend is affecting kids, too. According to research from 2015, even just one hour of television a day was linked to overweight and obesity in kindergartners.

2. Too Much TV and Binge Watching Destroys a Writer’s Sleep

Writers need sleep to refresh their brains and stoke their creative energy. TV-watching can interfere with that sleep. Studies have actually linked longer periods of TV-viewing with shorter duration of sleep, which then causes a cascade of problems, including reduced focus and concentration, increased hunger and potentially, weight gain.

If you binge-watch, you’re no better off, unfortunately. Researchers reported in 2017 that those who identified as binge-watchers experienced more fatigue, increased symptoms of insomnia, poorer sleep quality, and greater alertness prior to going to sleep than those who didn’t binge-watch.

Further analysis showed that binge-watchers had a 98 percent higher likelihood of having poor sleep quality compared to non-bingers. The more often people binge-watched, the harder it was for them to fall asleep.

TVs emit blue light, which affects your melatonin levels. (Melatonin is the “sleep hormone.”) Blue light delays REM deep sleep and leads to morning drowsiness.

Say nothing of how you’re likely to stay up late just to see what happens!

3. Hours of TV Slows Your Thinking and Increases Risk of Dementia

As we age, it’s even more important to be careful about how many hours we’re watching. In a recent 2019 study, scientists discovered that spending more than 3.5 hours a day in front of the TV doubled memory decline in adults over the age of 50.

Why would this be? Researchers theorized that while watching all that television, participants missed out on other brain-boosting activities like reading. In fact, lots of TV seems to negatively affect the brain, reducing verbal memory and cognition.

Other research has shown that while TV watching may not “rot” the brain as previously believed, it can create subtle effects. In a 2015 study, those watching more than three hours of television a day had worse cognitive function than those watching less, experiencing declines in working memory, processing speed, and executive function (ability to plan and complete tasks).

And in a 2016 study on data from over 3,200 young adults (18 to 30 years), those with high levels of TV watching in young adulthood (more than three hours a day), particularly when combined with low levels of activity, were more likely to have poor performance on a cognitive test when they turned middle-age than those who had lower levels of TV watching.

4. Too Much TV Could Hinder Your Creativity

Whether TV negatively affects creativity is still up for debate, but a recent study suggests it might.

Scientists followed 60 children who were all about three years old, and allowed some of them to watch television for 15 minutes, while others played with jigsaw puzzles and books for that same 15 minutes. They then tested the children’s creativity by asking them for creative ideas. Scientists looked at the number of ideas the children came up with and the originality of those ideas.

Results showed that while TV had little impact on the number of creative ideas the children came up with, it definitely affected the originality of those ideas. Those who had watched the 15 minutes of television came up with less original ideas than those playing with books and puzzles, though the effects were temporary.

The scientists theorized that over time, TV-watching could affect a child’s development by limiting the imagination.

Other available evidence favors the theory that TV viewing reduces creative imagination. Yes, it may stimulate some ideas from time to time, but it interferes with a number of other things you need to stoke the imagination, including the following:

• Time—we need time to “be bored” for the imagination to kick in. Watching TV takes up that time.
• Dissociation—we need to separate ourselves from the real world to be able to sink into our writing worlds. We don’t do that while watching TV.
• Reflection—imagination thrives when we step back and reflect on life and on our stories. We can’t do that while watching TV.
• Effort—engaging the imagination requires effort, and while watching TV, we are passive.

5. Binge-Watching Can Increase Stress and Loneliness

Two things we don’t need more of as writers: stress and loneliness.

Binge-watching your favorite shows, though, could increase your risk of both.

In a survey of over 2,000 people by Patient.info, over half of respondents admitted to experiencing mental health issues after binge-watching a series. These included loneliness, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and feeling “empty.”

A recent study by the University of Texas reported similar findings. Researchers discovered that the more lonely and depressed the study participants were, the more likely they were to binge-watch TV.

A study in Psychology Today found the same thing—too much television watching makes you depressed.

How to Turn the TV Off for Increased Writing Productivity

In addition to the above five concerns, TV robs writers of the one thing they’re always saying they don’t have enough of: time.

It’s not always easy to use that “off” button, particularly when you come home from a long day at work and just want to veg out.

There’s nothing wrong with watching your favorite program for a while, but then if you follow these tips, you’ll probably feel better overall, and come your writing with increased energy, focus, and creativity.

• Keep a TV diary for 2 weeks: Before you make any changes, it’s important to be realistic about how much TV (and streamed shows) you’re watching. Jot down the shows you watch and the total time for each day for two weeks.
• Watch on purpose: Watch the show you want to watch, then turn the TV off. Otherwise, the next show is likely to lure you in.
• Set limits: Most of us just watch TV without thinking too much about it. Try setting daily limits on your watching time and stick with them.
• Multi-task: Though I usually recommend against multi-tasking, it’s a great thing to do while watching TV. Try folding the laundry, doing the dishes, or some other activity that will a) get you moving, and b) keep you from mindlessly eating while watching. It will make TV watching less detrimental to your health.
• Schedule time to be bored: Your brain needs space and time to exercise the imagination, but most of us hate feeling bored these days. If we find ourselves with time to spare, we turn on the TV or reach for our phones. Schedule in at least 30 minutes of time to be bored each week, and use that time to let your mind wander. Keep a notebook nearby so you can jot down any good ideas that pop up.
• Set up alternative activities: What will you do if you don’t watch TV? Many people aren’t sure how to answer that question, as they rarely ask it. Take some time to jot down other activities you enjoy, like reading, drawing, journaling, taking a walk, spending time with family and friends, crafting, making music, etc. Then when your daily TV-watching time is up, turn to this list for ideas on what to do for fun instead.
• Have TV-free days: Set one day a week to keep the television off. This may be tough at first, but it’s worth it to stick it out. It can help you see clearly how addicted you may be, and it also forces you to engage in other, hopefully healthier activities.

How does television and streaming services affect your writing life?

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Sources
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