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Friday, October 23, 2009What Would You Do With An Extra Hour Today?
Did you know that changing just one simple habit could dramatically
increase the quality of life of the vast majority of American adults?
Not only would it perk up their mood, but it would also improve their health,
benefit their marriages and increase their work productivity.
Want to know what it is? Very simple.
TV watching is now the most common hobby in America and the number 1 predictor
of bedtime. In other words, it's what's keeping us up at night.
Literally and figuratively.
Yes, a ton of research over the past 30 years
shows that watching too much TV is associated with increased snacking, smoking
and drinking. It correlates with less physical and sexual activity.
People who watch more TV are more likely to be obese and to suffer from
hypercholesterolemia. They tend to engage in more social comparison and
to feel depressed more often. Their ability to concentrate is also
reduced. In short, people who watch too much TV are less satisfied with
their lives, and they have good reasons to be.
How Much Is Too Much?
According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), the maximum
number of hours per month of TV watching for ideal health is 30 - or an average
of one hour per day.
TV certainly serves a purpose, but if you are an avid watcher, here's my
question to you: is it really worth that full commitment? Are there no
other activities that would be worth your time? How about reading?
Walking? Calling distant friends and family members? Learning
something new? Building miniature airplanes with popsicle sticks?
Imagine all the possibilities: what could you do with an extra hour or 2 today?