Bye bye television

To reduce my procrastination time, last April I’ve decided to switch off my TV and put it in the closet. Every day, I was watching movies or reality shows. As soon as I arrived home, the first thing I did was to switch on the TV.
What you see and experience shapes your brain like what you eat and drink shapes your body. I don’t want to be stupid and lazy by watching over and over the same people mocking one another on TV. Self-development books always advise you to shut down your TV to reclaim the time you waste watching it. We are easily caught up by a movie and anything on TV. I don’t say everything is silly and isn’t worth watching. But you can choose a program to watch and after turn off the TV and not let it on by default.
It has been 6 months now that my TV is stored in my closet. I feel great not watching it. I don’t miss it. I don’t watch news. People are sometimes surprised about how ignorant I’m about events in the world. I don’t feel the need to be aware of it.

You may wonder what I do instead of watching TV. In the beginning, I was watching Korean dramas and American TV shows online. OK, not much better :p but at least I was choosing consciously what I wanted to watch. With the TV, I was watching whatever was the least uninteresting…. Hum hum.
I began to read self-development posts, tweet about self-development, write my blog etc. Switching off the TV freed me and gave me some time to experience what I really enjoy doing. Now, my self-development journey takes more and more space in my life. And I’m loving it!

I (re)discovered an extremely interesting website.
TED Talks !!! Tada 🙂

I watch it very often. I watch it when I cook and when I wash dishes. The lengths of the talks are perfect 20 minutes. Washing dishes takes one talk, cooking 2 talks, when I’m folding clothes 1,5 talk. It sets me in the perfect mood to pursue my other activities and it inspires me.
So, I wanted to share here my favorite TED Talks so far.

Kakenya Ntaiya – A girl who demanded school
If I had to choose only one talk it would be this one. It’s extremely inspiring. I cried. She showed so much courage, boldness and grit.


Dan Pink – the puzzle on motivation
I completely agree with Dan Pink. It explains why I want to change my career.


Hans Rosling – Best stats you’ve ever seen
I’ve never thought statistics were so interesting.


Jill Bolte Taylor – My stroke of insight
This is how a stroke was experienced by a brain researcher. Fascinating !


Lisa Kristine – Glimpses of modern day slavery
It’s beyond words…

That’s all for now 🙂