Demolishing the Time-Suckers pt 3

Urgent Update from Jeanie's Foundation of Fictitious Reporting

What is the #1 Time Sucker in our Completely Non-scientific Facebook Survey?

Answer: Social media.

BUT . . .

What is the #1 Time Sucker in our "Completely Non-scientific Survey for People Who DON'T use Social Media" Survey?

The overwhelming majority answered Television.

New Survey Question: Is web surfing while watching TV considered multi-tasking or double time wasting?


(Triple points for responding during a commercial break while simultaneously texting, tweeting, and posting across the virtual world.)

In March 2014 I publicly admitted my weakness, a late night TV and junk food comfort zone.

We cut the cable, and I thought I'd broken free.

But here I am, two years later, once again following a popcorn trail to the flat screen. 
 

Does anyone else succumb to the lure of mindless TV viewing?
Raise your remote if you identify with any of the following:

"I sit down to watch one show, but wind up viewing for hours."

"I use TV to avoid disagreeable tasks like . . . pretty much anything."

"I eat mindlessly in front of the TV."
"I make late-night food runs based on the commercials."  (Dang you, Snickers bars!)

"I fall asleep in front of the TV."

Try these tips to demolish the dastardly TV Time-Sucker: 

• Strap an electric eel to the remote.

• Replace TV with fun physical activities, like bike riding, dancing, or chasing stray panda bears through your neighborhood.

• Meet a friend and enjoy real live human interaction. Sitting silently side by side while texting doesn't count. Use face to face, not Facebook interaction.

• Have a family fun night. In good weather, go outside. Kids are incredibly imaginative when given a chance. Inside or out, fort building with old sheets is a classic.

• Seek creative outlets. Draw, write, act out a play, build a birdhouse. Build an outhouse.  Make mud pies with the kids.

Wordsowers Christmas party 2015

• Get to know your loved ones better with question games like "Never Have I Ever." (For those who played it as a drinking game, leave out the booze!)

Warning: some people, like my husband, enjoy these games as much as walking barefoot on hot BBQ coals. After two rounds Jake reacts like he's in a Nazi interrogation chamber. 

Jake: "Stop questioning me!"
Me: "You vill tell me if never haff you ever schkinny dipped, ya? Mach schnell!"

• Most important, pray first. Ask the Lord for guidance, ideas, and strength.

"As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength." Psalm 138:3 

 
Make TV time meaningful, not mindless.

Last night Jake and I watched War Room, a great movie with a encouraging message. 

The night would have been even better if I'd gone to bed after the movie instead of falling asleep on the sofa watching Twilight Zone reruns. 

Back to praying Psalm 138. 

Turkey cartoon courtesy of vectorolie@freedititalphotos.net

Ode to Holiday Feasting

photo courtesy of Apolonia @freedigitalphotos.net

 

My pants are size four.

I'm not anymore.

I know a quick fix.

I'll buy a size six.




photo courtesy Mister GC @freedigitalphotos.net

 

The sixes were great

'Til I over-ate;

And at this new weight

I now need size eight.

 

I did it again.

I'm up to size ten...
No-wait. That's not right!

My tens are all tight!





photo courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography @freedigitalphotos.net
 

Cookies, cakes and pies galore,

One bite always leads to more.

What can stop this upward roll?

Oh, that thing called self-control.

We're our own harshest critics. We beat ourselves up over perceived failures. But we can break free from the things that hold us back, and hold us captive.      

 

In my next post I'll confess what I'm struggling with.

 

And share my plan to finally overcome it.

 

What's in it for you? An opportunity to break free yourself.

 

What challenges do you face? Is there a habit you haven't been able to overcome?

 

In my next post I'll share a way we can link together to break the chains. 

Meanwhile, here's some encouraging news:

 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Gal 5:22-23.




photo courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti @freedigitalphotos.net


God's got our backs. We don't have to do it alone.
Please share this with your friends who are struggling, because I see victory in our futures. As for the niggling little voice that just told you, "Maybe for someone else, but not for me." Tell that liar to sit down, because YOUR victory is at hand.