Is Your Idiot Box Winning?

One of my earlier posts discussed the modern day distractions of life preventing a writer from concentrating on his/her craft. I think I left out one thing on that list. The invasion of the idiot box also known as television. I was minding my own business strolling through a mall a few years ago when I got talked into a subscription. I thought it wouldn’t really be that difficult to switch if off when it was time to write. Not only was it difficult, it was downright impossible.

I’d be watching Jack Bauer flying through 12 kinds of nuclear bombs and emotional tribulations on one channel and promise myself I’d get to writing as soon as I was done watching. However, when I was done, I’d switch over to another channel and see Susan and her latest trauma on Desperate Housewives, postpone the switch off for another hour, then change the channels and come across some movie I hadn’t seen in 10 years. By the time I’d done traipsing through the channels, it was time for bed. I’d lazily doodle a couple of useless lines, yawn and climb into bed. The weekend was worse. Even when there was nothing on, I’d mercilessly surf the almost 100 channels until I found something to watch. It was quite alarming.

While I was glued to the idiot box, a year speedily passed by and I noticed I hadn’t written anything of substance and had donated $620 to the cable network. Something had to be done. There was no one to stage an intervention so I had to stage it for myself. I bravely filled a cancellation form and sent it over to the network. They didn’t cancel it but I convinced myself it was still under process and continued mind numbing myself. 3 months later, my muse came calling and shamed me into going down to their office where I insisted vigorously I wanted it cancelled. They acquiesced and I signed the cancellation papers. It took another 2 months before it was finally disconnected. Then came the pain of getting back into a writing habit, which was harder than turning off the television.

It’s been over 2 years since I turned off my idiot box and I’ve never regretted it. Is your idiot box preventing you from following a strict writing schedule or life in general? Are you finding it difficult to turn it off? Join me tomorrow for several surefire ways to wean yourself off your idiot box.

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