4 Great Alternatives To Binging TV While Stuck At Home
There’s more to life than Netflix. Weird, but true.
We may be living through a golden age of television entertainment given all of the viewing options available, the ease of access, and the freedom from the tyranny of schedules that on-demand viewing allows. But all that said, this can quickly become too much of a good thing.
For the most part, watching television is the most passive of activities, and this is time that could be better spent with friends and family.
Covid, however, is still a thing we’re dealing with. A big part of that includes reducing gatherings and staying home much of the time. While vaccines are being dispensed, and numbers in some parts of the country have been showing improvement, the pandemic isn’t over yet.
Social distancing is still the safe way to go, and that means more time spent at home.
Understandably, that also means more time in the presence of a television or similar device. While there’s nothing wrong with a little TV from time to time, there are other things you could be doing to make the best of a bad time.
Here are some suggestions.
Game Night!
This is an excellent time to pull those old boardgames gathering dust down off the shelves. Whether you’re playing with family or roommates, a good board game can easily replace hours otherwise spent vegging on the couch in front of the TV. And we’re in the midst of a bit of a renaissance in board games right now. Most major stores have impressive collections of games to try, from board games like Ticket To Ride and Forbidden Island to card-based games such as Munchkins and Apples To Apples. Many can be adapted for play over Zoom and similar services if you have friends with the same games on hand.
Roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons have been enjoying a renewed popularity lately among families and friends. Most can be easily played online, resulting in hours of cooperative, imaginative play. There are quite a few roleplaying games available based on popular television shows such as The Expanse and Star Trek.
Have a Read-a-thon
Books are a great deal. By the hour, they’re much cheaper than movie theatres. Mystery, romance, science fiction, or something spiritually or intellectually uplifting are all great options. You don’t even need to worry about shelf space. Ebooks are readily available for nearly all handheld devices.
If you’re short on reading material at the moment but have a library card, you can either arrange to borrow books at your local library or look into downloading a library app such as Libby or Overdrive. Both apps give you access to ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines you can borrow online and read or listen to for free. You’ll need a library card to register. If you don’t currently have a card, you can call your local library to find out how to get one.
Learn a New Skill or Discover a Hobby
Ever want to learn to play a musical instrument or learn a new language? Can you think of a better time than now? Time spent not watching television can be time spent learning basic guitar chords or how to do scales on a keyboard. When all this pandemic nonsense is over, you’re going to want to travel, right? Time to brush up on your Spanish or Italian.
Heck, take some time to read Hamlet in the original Klingon. (“taH pagh taHbe!”)
Many people have taken up learning how to paint in watercolor. Others have been making birdhouses. Now is the perfect opportunity to become a more interesting person. (And if you’re already interesting, maybe you can help teach someone else.)
Start a Side Hustle
Have an idea for a business? With extra time on your hands, staying at home and not watching television means more time to flesh out your concept, research what resources you’d need to launch your side hustle, and get it started. People are finding lots of great ways to make a few extra bucks by:
- Designing apps (no coding necessary)
- Coming up with t-shirt designs and selling them online
- Creating and selling arts or crafts
- Sewing and selling customized face masks
- Building and teaching online courses
- Taking stock photographs.
What skill or talent could you turn into extra cash on the side?
No Limits
Really, it’s your time. Why waste it in front of the TV every night? There is precious little to appreciate during Covid times, but finding alternatives to binge-watching TV can be a way to turn a negative into something more like a positive.
This guest post is sponsored by Link Apartments West End, an apartment community located in Greenville, SC, which offers short-term leases on their one and 2-bedroom luxury living spaces.
About John Teehan
John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2
