Why is it so hard to do things that are good for you?
There's the old saying that there's nothing that tastes as good as being thin feels, but that doesn't mean that I can stop eating doritos when I visit my mother, or that I can necessarily resist the chocolates that I have stashed the cupboard for "special occasions" when I'm being bored and lazy.
The instant gratification seems to outweigh (heh, no pun intended) the slight long-term benefit of not partaking. That's really the way of the world. That's why it's more pleasant to lie around than to undergo cardiovascular exercise. Sure with the exercise, you feel better overall, but that momentary discomfort of getting hot and sweaty and the procrastination of I can do this later is difficult to overcome.
I have, however, been better with the exercise of late. Having a fitness room at work is really a nice perk.
But I didn't want to start this subject talking about diet and exercise. I just want to use it as a very common example where people often do not do what is best for them.
I really want to talk about television and my own pathetic addiction to it and how I was resolved to cut the cord, but instead did the opposite.
My current cable "deal" has expired. So I think... Now's the perfect time to cut way back. It would be good for me to watch less TV. I'll just switch to the simplest basic package... Well, that thought lasted only a little while, then I figure I'd get expanded basic because, you know, things like the discovery channels are educational!
So I call in to change plans. Well, not only didn't I cut back, but I still have what I had before - Expanded basic plus digital view, plus HBO, Starz, Cinemax (same low price!). And not only that, but I also have Showtime for six months (free!) and upgraded internet service (free!).
Pathetic.
And have you heard the term "Tivo Guilt?" Because I have it. All the cool movies I want to see and have access to through cable premium channels, I Tivo. But I just don't have time to watch them. So the Tivo fills up with stuff.
A better person would just hit the delete button until their finger got a blister. But I can't do that. Nope. So I've been writing them out to DVDs because sometime I might want to watch them...
It'd be better to just cut the cord and go cold turkey on cable and Tivo.
But then, I don't know what to do with myself if I don't have that TV time. What do people do that I don't do? I read a lot already. And I take care of a house and a yard (which I could do better, I suppose). I work full time. I paint some and do some stained glass and sometimes play the Wii. Without kids to haul around, complex meals to prepare, or some particularly enthralling hobby, I just don't know what else to do with myself. What do people do if they don't watch TV?
The instant gratification seems to outweigh (heh, no pun intended) the slight long-term benefit of not partaking. That's really the way of the world. That's why it's more pleasant to lie around than to undergo cardiovascular exercise. Sure with the exercise, you feel better overall, but that momentary discomfort of getting hot and sweaty and the procrastination of I can do this later is difficult to overcome.
I have, however, been better with the exercise of late. Having a fitness room at work is really a nice perk.
But I didn't want to start this subject talking about diet and exercise. I just want to use it as a very common example where people often do not do what is best for them.
I really want to talk about television and my own pathetic addiction to it and how I was resolved to cut the cord, but instead did the opposite.
My current cable "deal" has expired. So I think... Now's the perfect time to cut way back. It would be good for me to watch less TV. I'll just switch to the simplest basic package... Well, that thought lasted only a little while, then I figure I'd get expanded basic because, you know, things like the discovery channels are educational!
So I call in to change plans. Well, not only didn't I cut back, but I still have what I had before - Expanded basic plus digital view, plus HBO, Starz, Cinemax (same low price!). And not only that, but I also have Showtime for six months (free!) and upgraded internet service (free!).
Pathetic.
And have you heard the term "Tivo Guilt?" Because I have it. All the cool movies I want to see and have access to through cable premium channels, I Tivo. But I just don't have time to watch them. So the Tivo fills up with stuff.
A better person would just hit the delete button until their finger got a blister. But I can't do that. Nope. So I've been writing them out to DVDs because sometime I might want to watch them...
It'd be better to just cut the cord and go cold turkey on cable and Tivo.
But then, I don't know what to do with myself if I don't have that TV time. What do people do that I don't do? I read a lot already. And I take care of a house and a yard (which I could do better, I suppose). I work full time. I paint some and do some stained glass and sometimes play the Wii. Without kids to haul around, complex meals to prepare, or some particularly enthralling hobby, I just don't know what else to do with myself. What do people do if they don't watch TV?