Ten Things to Do Instead of Watching Television
By Joseph Pescatello Its been said that television is the opiate of the masses. If you and your family spend more time in front of the set than youd like, here are some easy alternatives that you might find far more rewarding: In no particular order: 1) Read something. If you have a book or magazine on the coffee table instead of the TV remote, its easy to spend 30 minutes reading instead of watching. 2) Write something. Keep a pen and paper, your laptop, a journal, some stationery anything that you can use to capture a few words. Once you start, you may find time flies by and youve expressed something that would have otherwise gone un-said. 3) Walk outside. I dont necessarily mean take a long walk. Just put on your shoes and walk around your house, block, neighborhood whatever. Like the other activities, you may find that once you start, momentum carries you farther than you originally intended. 4) Paint the kitchen. Its sitting there waiting for you and you know it. If youve been living with the same drab wall color just because its been there forever, you can brighten any room in your house with a little creative vision and elbow grease. 5) Learn to play guitar (or any instrument.) Practicing an instrument for 30 minutes or an hour is so rewarding, you may find that you dont even want to watch television. And if your family is all involved in some musical endeavor, you can all participate. Its wonderful! 6) Build a step-stool. You know that high shelf that you always have trouble reaching? Well, having a well-made step-stool around would be great. And learning a little woodworking might launch you into a very rewarding hobby. 7) Build a web site. Its easier than you might think and once you know a little about it, the process can be great fun. There are myriad books on the topic and many web sites out there to help you get started. 
Research your family tree. The Internet makes genealogical research extremely easy. You can learn a great deal for free and without leaving your living room. Start with a Google search of Family Tree and youll be on your way. 9) Learn a foreign language. If you spend 30 minutes every night with a foreign language instruction program, whether it be software, on tape or in a book, youll be amazed at how much you can learn without ever taking a class. Once you start, you may find that you really want to master the language. Thats when you enroll in a class. Go for it! 10) Plant a garden. If you have a plot of land, youll love seeing the fruits of your labor when you drive up after a days work. If you dont have your own property, plant a potted garden in pots or window boxes. The effort will pay huge dividends every day. Joe Pescatello is an author, guitar player, woodworker and commercial software developer. Visit http://FourthFret.com for a sample of his writing and web development. You can reach him at joe-p@unclebobsattic.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Pescatello http://EzineArticles.com/?Ten-Things-to-Do-Instead-of-Watching-Television&id=389132 legall cases against ambien ambien cr 7 day free trial offer ambien prescriptions gifts ambien viagra
