10 Things to do Instead of Watching TV ...

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When was the last time you spoke to your mother, your sister, or your grandmother? You know how delighted they would be to talk to you for longer than ten minutes on your drive home. Why not spend the hour chatting with them, rather than watching another re-run of Grey’s Anatomy?

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There is probably s giant shoebox filled with loose photos underneath your bed or tucked into a closet somewhere. Why not put them in some kind of order, and load them into a photo album? You’ll be amazed at what you might find (embarrassing photos of your brothers!) and what you might feel obligated to scan and post on Facebook…

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I’m always downloading new songs from amazon or iTunes, but they only make it onto my iPod every few weeks. Wouldn’t it be great to make a couple of new work-out playlists, so you can rock out at the gym? Check out fitness.com for a bunch of suggestions, or just pick your own tunes to get your groove on.

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Do you have a long list of email messages you’ve read, but haven’t had a chance to reply to yet? I know I sure do! Sometimes I just wonder why these friends of mine don’t just send me notes on Facebook, but even those get piled up after a few days. Spend an hour catching up on emails, and make your friends happy, too!

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In the past six weeks, I’ve bought ten books from the used bookstore that I am just dying to read. Instead of turning on the TV, I’ve been reading them, and it’s so much fun! Read a random book, read the paper, read a magazine, read to your kids. Just read!

Even in the dead of winter, an after-dinner walk is a great way to burn some calories and get some fresh air. Bundle up, grab your sweetie or your iPod, and go for a quick walk. After all, that does beat sitting in front of the TV and piling on calories!

When I was little, my mom and dad would buy a new jigsaw puzzle every couple of weeks, and the entire family would put them together after dinner. It was a great way to bond, since all we did was talk. It also helped all of us with our brain function and memory, and to this day, I miss the tradition.

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Have you ever tried to do the New York Times crossword puzzle? On Monday, it’s pretty easy, but it gets progressively more difficult as the week wears on, and by Sunday, I’m usually stumped by almost all of the clues. Instead of watching TV, grab a pencil (not a pen!) and give it a go!

I have an entire shelf of cookbooks, sitting there on my bookshelf, collecting dust. Some of them are kitschy old titles I bought because they were fun, others are food memoirs I love for the stories as well as the recipes, and some are just classics (like The Joy of Cooking). Take some time to peruse a cookbook and see if anything piques your interest. If so, tie on an apron and give it a try!

When was the last time you sat down and wrote an actual letter, not an email? For most of us, it’s been years. Grab a notepad and a pen and write your grandmother a letter, or send a friend a note just to let them know you’re thinking of them instead of watching another wretched season of The Bachelor.

Now that I’ve gotten you started, I’m sure you can come up with dozens of other things you can do rather than watching TV. If you tend to be OCD, like me, that list might include sorting your shoes or DVDs, but if you’re normal, then you might be thinking of things that are a lot more fun and interesting! What do you like to do instead of vegging on the couch? Please let me know… otherwise, I’m off to my closet to re-arrange my winter shoes!

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