Most Effective Tips for Staying Productive While Watching TV Series

Like most people on this planet, I love to watch TV series. In fact, watching is too mild a word. Let me rephrase that to binging. My weeknights are spent catching up, one episode at a time. My weekends slip away with me in bed binging on multiple shows. In fact, at one point in my life, I moved my mini-fridge next to my recliner with a built-in beer cooler. The only time I wasn’t glued to the TV was when I was in the bathroom. While answering the call of nature, I’d be thinking about what shows to add to my to-watch. Obviously, this isn’t the healthiest approach to life.

Productivity and TV

It’s easy to find yourself addicted to shows. We are arguably living in the Golden Age of TV. Cinema, of course, has grown far beyond what it used to be. There are so many movies churning out every month, it gets hard to keep up. Especially for people who prefer their entertainment at home rather than the cinema. Luckily my Optimum TV package comes with a comprehensive TV guide so I know what’s playing when. Still, it’s rarely satisfying having a story wrap itself up in 90 minutes or less.

For me at least, this is the biggest reason I prefer shows over movies. Shows tend to take their time, involving you in the developing story and characters. And episodes tend to end on high notes, leaving you thirsty for more. This would explain my binging urges. But getting to used to staring at a screen can wreck your productivity. Many bingers experience reduced productivity, increased procrastination and a truckload of chores waiting for them at the end of a session. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t be an Xfinity TV buff and a productive person at the same time. Here are some of my tried and tested tips to keep you feeling productive when you’re glued to a show:

• Work exercise into your session
• Fold that fresh laundry
• Get some ironing done while you watch TV series
• Give your pet a thorough grooming
• Pay your outstanding bills
• Organize things that could be tidier
• Keep notes on lessons you learn from the show
• Plan your day or week ahead
• Do a little cleaning

Work some exercise into your session

You don’t need to hit free weights all the time. You can do some simple exercises as you watch the TV series. It’s actually a great opportunity to work in some crunches, push-ups, planks, and squats into your day. You can also do yoga poses, lunges or jumping jacks without it interfering with your viewing. You can even try out some bodyweight exercises that will really give you a workout.

Fold that fresh laundry

It’s Sunday evening. You just got the laundry out and now you’re about to miss the latest episode of Downton Abbey. What do you do? Simple! You watch the show and you fold up the laundry at the same time. Chores that involve the minimal attention and effort from you are perfect to fit into your entertainment sessions. You’ll be done with at least one chore by the time the episode ends.

Get some ironing done while you watch TV series

Speaking of chores, don’t you just hate ironing? It’s my least favorite chore, mainly because it involves standing for a long time, while your hands move mechanically. It can be mind-numbingly boring. So what do you do to alleviate that? You place the ironing board in front of the TV and catch Friends reruns while you get it done. I find that comedy shows tend to be a great solution for boring chores. Laughter makes everything easier.

Give your pet a thorough grooming

Pets are awesome. They are cute, cuddly, furry and most importantly, they cheer you up on a bad day. But most pet owners will know having a pet is a huge responsibility as well. Aside from making sure your pets are getting enough food and exercise, you need to groom them regularly. Anyone who’s ever had a pet knows that they rarely sit still for grooming. This is where Optimum TV helps me a lot. TV gives my dogs a distraction as I brush them, clean their teeth and clip their claws. You’ll be done in no time and you’ll still know who died on The Walking Dead.

Pay your outstanding bills

Paying bills can be painful. I know it is for me. I always hate parting with my hard-earned money, no matter how good a service I am paying for. One way to take the sting out of paying the bills is to do it while you watch TV series. Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is bound to put you in a better mood, making paying up more bearable. If nothing else, it’s another chore taken care of without affecting your entertainment dosage.

Organize things that could be tidier

No matter how tidy you think you are, there’s always something that could be more organized. I find it very therapeutic when I’m organizing my mail tray or my sock drawer. Sometimes I even rearrange everything in the junk drawer. Not only do I get stuff done, I’m up to date on Daredevil. All while my drawers are tidy enough to make my mom proud. Organizing your home doesn’t take much time and effort, and is enjoyable when you have one eye on the show.

Keep notes on lessons you learn from the show

The TV is a source of information. Like any source of information, you can learn something from it. As cheesy as it sounds, you can actually learn a lot from contemporary TV shows. I first started writing down cool lines from House of Cards many years ago. Imagine my surprise when I went back to read them again and found very profound pieces of advice. Giving credit where credit is due, screenwriters can create larger-than-life characters. But since life imitates art, there is a lot you can apply to real-life as well. Optimum TV is a much better teacher than the one who taught history at my high school.

Plan your day or week ahead

If there is one thing I have never been able to relate to, its morning people. I am not a morning person at all. When I wake up in the morning I spend twenty minutes sitting on my bed, waiting for my brain to catch up. This used to mean I’d be in a rush to get to class or work every day once I was fully awake. I found planning out the day on the night before was a big help. I could decide my outfit, agenda and plans easily while catching up on my shows. Then all I had to do the next day was to follow the plan. This took away a lot of uphill work in the early hours of the morning.

Not only am I on top of everything in my day, but I am also doing it with the minimum of effort. Don’t waste away your late-night Xfinity TV sessions without at least setting out the next day. Take it a step further and plan out your entire week. This is a great way to discipline yourself.

Do a little cleaning

I used to hate spending any amount of time cleaning. I’d be annoyed by all the other stuff I could be doing instead. Who wants to vacuum the carpet when the NFL game is on? Cleaning used to eat into a significant part of my day after I was done at work. This left me with even fewer time for myself. Until I figured out I could watch the game while cleaning up the room at the same time. This saved me double the time I’d spend on cleaning. Not only was my apartment squeaky clean, but I had also already gotten my entertainment fix. Which meant I could go out with friends, or cook myself a nice dinner and relax. Either way, I found myself with more time on my hands. Try it out and you will find Optimum TV is a great companion to have during spring cleaning.

Choosing the right TV provider is as important as choosing your new apartment. If, like me, you live in California, here are some of the best providers in the state to choose from.