As part of my endless and possibly futile quest to be a less pathetic version of myself, I’ve embarked on a campaign to stop watching TV and movies. For me it’s low hanging fruit - some people really love movies, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I watched something that I truly enjoyed. It’s just something to fill dead time when I’m too tired to think. It BOTHERS me that I’ve spent so many hours mindlessly watching shows that I didn’t even like. I feel like I’m wasting my life every time I watch TV.
I’ve tried reading and podcasts with limited success. They’re good to a point, but the type of content I like is usually either pretty heavy or requires some thought (philosophy, human rights, law, etc. are my areas of interest), and I’m increasingly having trouble with my attention span too.
I already cancelled Netflix a long time ago, but I just never found a good replacement for it. Usually I find myself doomscrolling or watching the same few movies I already own or playing chess on my phone. I decided when I started that I’d let myself finish watching the shows I already followed, but just wouldn’t expose myself to any new ones. Now one of the last two shows that I had been following has been cancelled (which is understandable, the last season was AWFUL) and the other won’t have a new season for a while because of the strike (go strikers), so I’d really like to make TV and movies a non-factor in my life.
So I’m looking for advice here. What other activities are less of a waste of valuable time but not mentally tasking? Has anyone had success improving their attention span? I’d love to become a bookworm but goddamn is it ever hard to keep my ass on a chair long enough to get through more than two chapters. I don’t even know why my attention span is so bad - I actually used to tear through book and had no issue concentrating until about 5-10 years ago.
Any ideas?
Learn to play an instrument. Try a hobby; crafts, woodwork, painting. Learn a language. Join a local chess club. Volunteer for a local charity. Just keep trying stuff until you find something that is right for you.
Duolingo is the most productive addiction I have!
The addiction is strong because the owl Mafia comes looking for you. They guilt trip you at first, and then comes the violence. Leaving is unacceptable.
It’s starts with the 18 motivations by lunch time. If it reaches dinner, Duo breaks down your door and puts a pistol to your head until you do your lesson.
Break your streak and we break your fingers. You have been warned. The owl is always watching.
Seconded learning an instrument.
There is no “beating it”. There’s no final boss, there’s no credits roll, no end in sight. You can always get a little better, there is always something new to learn and reach for.