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Are you stuck in an endless cycle of streaming? You’re not alone. According to Statista, the average person over 15 spends at least three hours daily watching TV, with seniors logging four or more hours. In contrast, binge-watching might seem like harmless entertainment, but studies have linked it to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress. Eat This, Not That! spoke to two people who decided to cut TV from their daily routines, and they shared experienced unexpected physical transformations that might convince you to reach for the power button.
Better Sleep Patterns
The most immediate change was improved sleep quality. Danielle Yates, a fashion expert and co-founder of Headcovers Unlimited, noticed significant improvements within days.
“I noticed I’d spend evenings mindlessly watching shows instead of working on new designs,” she said.
One night, while streaming yet another series, Yates found herself stuck on a technical problem with a new fabric pattern.
“I kept rewinding the show because I wasn’t really watching—my mind was elsewhere,” she explained. “The pointlessness of this automated activity really got to me then. And even more sobering was the realization that it was draining my creative energy and knocking me off my flow.”
To reset, Yates decided to take a break from TV.
“TV was filling my mind with other people’s stories when I needed to focus on my own creative process,” she said. “The background noise was drowning out my thoughts.”
Within days, she noticed a difference.
“The first change hit me around day five,” she said. “Without the blue light and emotional stimulation from evening shows, I started falling asleep faster. My mind wasn’t racing with plot twists at midnight. I began waking up naturally at 6 a.m., feeling truly rested.”
Increased Physical Activity
When the TV screen went dark, bodies started moving. Arsen Misakyan, founder of LAXcar, reported a dramatic shift in his lifestyle. “With no screens, I started moving more,” he explains. “I exercised regularly, cooked healthy meals, and paid attention to how I felt. Small shifts, big impact. I had more energy, felt stronger, and developed habits I’d been meaning to start for years.”
Enhanced Energy Levels
Both participants reported a significant boost in their vitality. As Misakyan described, the changes led to “more energy” and feeling “stronger,” while Yates found herself with renewed vigor for creative work.
Creativity is central to Yates’ career, but TV had started to stifle her artistry.
“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I solved the fabric pattern problem in three days without TV,” she said. “I kind of spiraled into a ‘what was I doing with my time’ moment but snapped out of it quickly.”
Her evenings turned into productive design sessions.
“My living room became a mini design lab. I spread fabrics across the floor, experimenting with combinations I’d never considered before. I even found five new ways to reduce seam bulk in headwear—something that had stumped me for months.”
Improved Eating Habits
Without TV time dominating evenings, meal preparation became more mindful. As Misakyan noted while describing his lifestyle changes, he “cooked healthy meals, and paid attention to how I felt.” This conscious approach to nutrition contributed to what he describes as “Small shifts, big impact.”
Reduced Physical Stress
Perhaps most surprisingly, eliminating TV led to noticeable changes in stress levels. “My brain felt quieter,” Misakyan reveals. “There was no overstimulating content. No constant negative news. Just peace.”
He added, “It’s easy to forget how much TV adds to mental clutter until you stop watching it. My mood improved, I worried less, and I felt like I finally had space to think.”
Without TV consuming his free time, Misakyan found himself reconnecting with others.
“I spent more time with friends and family,” he explained. “We organized game nights, dinners, and meaningful conversations. Those moments felt so much more fulfilling than any TV show could.”
The Bottom Line
While giving up TV might seem daunting, the physical benefits reported by both participants suggest it’s worth considering. From better sleep to increased energy levels, the body responds positively to this reduction in screen time. As Misakyan observed about life beyond the screen, “Those moments felt so much more fulfilling than any TV show could.”
Without TV, Yates found herself with more time to read, which benefitted her work.
“I picked up those technical textile books I’d been ignoring,” she said. “In one month, I deepened my knowledge of fabric behavior more than I had in the previous year. Now I understand why certain materials react differently to body heat—something crucial for comfort in headwear design.” And if you enjoyed this article, don’t miss these 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.
