Fuck Yer Television February
My Media-less Movement
I’m sure you’ve heard of Veganuary, Sober October and No Nut November.
You’ve probably never heard of Fuck yer Television February.
Why?
I made it up.
Here’s what it is and why i’m doing it.
The concept’s simple — You can’t watch any TV Shows, Movies or pre-decided YouTube videos for the month of February. Wether that be on a Television, tablet, computer, laptop or phone, no TV shows or movies whatsoever. There’s a caveat for YouTube videos in that you can watch them if you know exactly what you want to watch before you open the app. By this i mean that you need a tutorial to work on your video transitions or your carbonara recipe or your Spanish cos Duolingo and that daft fuckin’ bird just isn’t cutting it.
Really, it’s a detox from lazy entertainment. For 30 days. No excuses, no caveats (bar the YouTube one). 1 episode of Always Sunny is a fail. Matt D’avella content — as helpful as it can be — counts as a fail. You get the point.
Why?
I’ve got many a reason but i’ll preface by saying that these are all purely my theoretical hypothesis’ and none of what i’m about to say is backed by any statistics or science whatsoever.
I’ll also preface by saying that i don’t have any social media bar this so there’s no chance my previous time watching TV shows and Movies can be channeled into an unhealthy social media addiction.
Okay, so here’s the hypothetical benefits i think it’ll have
Increased creativity.
I have this theory that we spend so much time watching TV shows, Movies and YouTube videos, that we fundamentally lose the capability to think for ourselves. We’re constantly surrounded by endless entertainment of all varieties and that leads to a creative ignorance:
“If all this creativity exists here then what’s the need for me to be creative”
Because we have everything we could ever possibly want at our finger tips, we forget to think and create for ourselves. By removing this from my life, i reckon i’ll bear witness to an increase in my own creativity.
Greater appreciation for previously avoidable activities.
I know that, for me at least, watching TV shows and movies is the easiest way to distract myself from things i know i need to get done. Dissertation? Clothing Business? Exercise? Nahhhh, i’ll sedate myself with TV shows for hours instead. Once i cut TV shows and movies out of my life, i’ll start to become more accustomed to the boredom that accompanies regular life and look forward to the previously menial tasks that i’d usually avoid.
More intentional actions.
I know that for me and many others, the TV is on in the background when I eat, when i have my coffee in the morning and when i’m with friends. It’s just something that exists to make other activities more exciting or bearable. By cutting this out i leave room for myself to sit down and enjoy a meal, appreciate how class a black coffee in the AM is and how brilliant connecting with friends can be.
Invigoration of interests.
Without the sedation of a TV set, i’ll have more time and appreciation for hobbies that maybe i’d been too scared to start in the past. From photography to learning Esperanto, perhaps the freed time and mental space will lead to increased interests to dormant interests.
Again, all purely theoretical. But i think i have a point and i’m excited to try it and see what happens.
Situational Importance
It’s important to note that i’m in an inherently unique situation. I’m a final year student swamped with work, living amidst national lockdown and a global pandemic. While i am busy with university work and running a business, i’m not so rushed off my feet that i don’t have blocks of hours here and there to waste with Netflix. I appreciate that i’m lucky to have the time to consider this theory in practice as i know there may be families, adults and postgrad students out there with little to no free time at all.
COVID presents this weird limbo we find ourselves in too. Where time before had been spent socialising, visiting movie theaters and going to the gym, it’s been replaced with a massive influx of alone time, spent inside. This is what’s lead to my own bingeing habits and i suspect i great many others.
So, really this is article is for anyone who’s finding themselves bingeing Netflix, spamming Youtube or gorging Prime. This could be to avoid imminent responsibilities or not. Regardless of wether it’s a coping strategy or not, this articles for you if you find yourself spending too much time doing any of these.
Channeling Time to Fulfilling Activities
My theory proposes than by abstaining from digital content, our time and creativity can be channelled into more fulfilling activities.
This could be working out 6 days a week. This could be finally taking that Photoshop course. This could be starting your writing career via Medium. This could be starting a YouTube channel. This could be anything.
I’ll pre-warn myself and everyone else, i don’t think this will be a direct transition from unfulfilling to fulfillment. There’s going to be a lot of boredom inbetween. I’m not just gonna go straight and drop the Netflix, pick up a camera and become the next Casey Neistat. When we drop the Netflix, there’s still going to be resistance to do the things that are avoidable.
Fortunately, when we realise there’s no longer a route to sedation and when we bask in the boredom of doing nothing, those previously unavoidable things will look fucking glorious. Dissertation? Geez it mate. Pull-ups? I’ll take 50. Reading a book? Make it plural.
Closing Thoughts
I’m not advocating that everyone gives up all media for the rest of their lives. I’m just trying to build a better relationship between myself and the media i consume. I’d rather live a life that was spent doing things that bring me fulfillment than curled up on the couch bingeing Netflix.
That’s not to say that there’s no time for movies or TV shows. I just think it’s better to have an intentional relationship with what you watch and consume. I’d rather hear about and be recommended brilliant movies by friends and experts than say
“there’s nothing on”
And spend 5 hours watching Netflix anyways. It’s all about intentionality.
So there we are, an experiment i’ll be taking part in over the next 30 days. I’ll keep everyone updated. If you’ve had thoughts about this before or are now considering it, let me know in the comments.
As Always,
Yours Honestly,
Liam Lawson.
