Q&A for How to Quit Watching TV

Instead of watching TV, you could read magazines, books, comics, etc. You can go for a run, bike ride, swim or to the park. Adopt a dog and play with it. Join a club. Spend time contributing to a collaborative online project, such as a citizen science initiative or a wiki. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or a nursing home. These examples should give you an idea of the direction in which to think about things to do.

If your parents don't limit you, then you need to limit yourself. Try to stick with one or two hours of TV a day at most. (Don't try to cut out TV entirely all at once, you'll probably fail and then you'll get frustrated with yourself.) Try to find new activities and hobbies that you like to do. You can read, learn a new language, learn how to make some new crafts, learn how to draw or play an instrument, etc.

Make yourself a study table and stick to it. This will help you not only to start studying, but also to improve your habits for watching television.

Do you live in a house with a yard, or in a neighborhood where you can walk around? You could go outside and get some exercise, ride a bike, take a walk, etc., or invite a friend over and see if they want to play tag, throw a ball around, etc. If you can't go outdoors, read a book, write a story or draw a comic book, paint a picture or do some crafts, or just get a head start on any upcoming school work.

Try to find new hobbies to entertain yourself, but if you know which time your favorite TV shows air, try to use a schedule or planner to do your productive matter around that time. Another option is to do all the work needed in that day before the first show you watch and let yourself unwind after and allow yourself to watch many different shows after because you already completed everything.

He may not realize that you want to spend time with him. Find an activity that you want to do with your dad and ask him if he'll do it with you. More than likely, he will say yes. That being said, your dad is going to need time to himself, so it's okay if he watches football sometimes too.

Record how much time you spend watching TV. Reduce the number of hours you watch TV gradually. Limit yourself to certain shows and don't start watching new shows. Use a timer to limit your time spent in front of the TV. Break yourself of the habit of sleeping with it on. Use a fan or white noise machine instead, or download a meditation app (like Insight Timer) and listen to the guided sleep meditations.

Try to find maps about where you are and plan to do things where you are for the next day. Make lists of jobs to do and do them before you get busy again. Try a new hobby. Read books. Write. Go for long walks. Call friends. There are lots of things you can do if you put your mind to it.

Go to a room without TV, and stay in there until people are done watching. I suggest you bring something to keep you occupied, like a handheld gaming system or books.