It’s easy to fall into the habit of turning on the same dull TV shows every evening. Plenty of those programs fill time but leave you feeling bored or drained. Instead of settling for another forgettable episode, there are better ways to spend your free time.
This post will help you spot routines that just don’t add much to your day and show you some simple, fresh ideas that can boost your mood and make your nights way more enjoyable. Keep reading if you’re ready to shake up your TV habits.
If you can’t think of anything else to do (bar watching the box), you’re a TV addict! Here are a few alternative ideas to spend your life: Then you can watch far less TV.
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me. What is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
- Read a good book
- Take a course to learn something
- Relax in the garden
- Play with pets
- Go for a walk
- Go for a swim
- Visit the cinema
- Visit the pub
- Have a self-massage
- Go for a coffee
- Volunteer
- Go for a run
- Visit an art gallery
- Visit a museum
- Hike a mountain
- Write your CV
- Write a poem
- Go to a music concert
- Visit a yoga class
- Visit a meditation class
- Ride your bicycle
- Search for a nicer job
- Visit the local park
- Clear the clutter
- Decorate your house
- Fix things that need fixing!
- Organise your paper work
- Catch up on your sleep
- Go for a game of tennis
- Learn to paint watercolours
- Watch the sunrise (or sunset)
- Cook a nice meal
- Visit a nearby town
- Give blood
- Write a letter
- Visit relatives
- Call a friend
- Do a litter clean-up
- Go to church
Arrange your sofas in an L-shape (with the coffee table in the middle). This enables you to still watch TV, but fosters conversation, rather than ‘sofa along the back of the wall, and everyone gawping at the screen’.
How to Legally Cancel Your TV Licence
In many cases, if you don’t watch live TV (or BBC iPlayer), you can legally cancel your TV licence.
Nobody says you have to live in a stark white room and never watch TV again. Most of us like a repeat of the classics (Porridge etc) on a rainy afternoon. And some TV actually can be good!
BBC Natural History Unit occasionally produce beautiful programs (alas often shown once, then confined to the archives). Like Natural World Symphony, which was a work of genius, and never shown since. Also find good programs at BBC Earth.
TV Programs That Are Good to Give Up
Rolling news. Psychologist Rolf Dobelli asks how has watching distressing news helped you to help others in any way, in the last year? Just donate anonymously to favourite charities. Far better use of time. Or use easyfundraising to raise funds for favourite causes (on what you would buy anyway), and then just turn off the news. If we go to war, someone will tell you.
Soap operas are not very distressing, but some people get addicted. And record episodes if they go on holiday. If you can’t bear to miss an episode, ask yourself why?
Celebrity junk. Chris Packham recently wrote an open letter to Ant and Dec, asking them not to kill creatures for entertainment. He writes that we’ve given up chimpanzees having tea parties, so why is this still on? Killing creatures for fun also affects local ecosystems (jungle creatures that would eat those creatures also suffer).
Lazy Daytime Programs: The long string of talk shows, tired news panels, and endless reruns can suck up your whole afternoon. These shows rarely teach you anything new, or make you laugh out loud. They are often just noise and gossip, that fills time, without giving anything back.
Violent Series: Some dramas centre around extreme crime. Binge-watching can stir up your stress levels. You might notice you sleep worse or feel more jumpy. Even ‘quality’ shows like Law & Order. What would the producers do, if female actresses refused to play tortured murder victims?
Monetary Game Shows: Programs that dangle big cash prizes and push contestants to go all-in for money can feel frustrating or empty. The focus on greed or shallow success doesn’t offer much beyond yelling at the screen. They are boring beyond mind-numbing!
Famous for being famous. There are serious repercussions to this. After the suicide of Caroline Flack (by all accounts a very kind woman), many hair salons now don’t stock gossip magazines, so do the same for TV programs.
The death of pop star Liam Payne gives heed to such concerns. This nice young lad likely would have had a much happier life, if he had stayed in Wolverhampton, and never become a pop star. Just to feed the egos and bank balances of the judges, who in some cases seem to think they are more important than the acts they sign up.
It’s always given that the programs made Susan Boyle a singing star. But if you ever saw her first audition, she was mocked before she opened her mouth and started to sing. If she could not have sung like an angel, she likely would still be made fun of now. Is that the society we want to live in?
Phone-in Programs. Don’t use them. This makes a fortune for lazy TV programmers, who just get encouraged to make more.
Ads. When the TV ads come on, just go and make a cuppa. Although the Calm Act says they cannot be at higher volume, clever people sometimes master the audio, so they do appear louder, in order to try to hypnotise you into buying stuff you don’t need.
Why Break Up With Boring TV?
You wouldn’t eat the same bland meal every night, so why let boring TV shows feed you the same empty stories? Most people want something fun or meaningful from their downtime, yet many TV programs fall flat.
The wrong kind of show can drain your mood, waste your time, and even mess with how you see the world. Taking a closer look at what you watch each night can help you swap out tired TV habits for something better.
How Boring TV Impacts Your Mood
Getting stuck in boring or harsh TV routines often rubs off on you. The more you watch, the easier it is to feel tired, restless, or even annoyed. Shows that drag out drama, highlight bad behaviour, or leave you in suspense can weigh you down. If you find yourself snapping at family or reaching for snacks out of boredom, your shows might be to blame.
Think about nights when you finish a series and feel numb or bothered instead of relaxed. That’s a sign the program wasn’t worth your time. You only get so many evenings, so why fill them with something that brings you down?
Rethinking Your TV Habits
It helps to pause and ask: Am I truly enjoying what’s on? Does this show help me unwind, spark my curiosity, or make me laugh? Or am I just filling space until bedtime?
Try this quick check:
- Mood Check: Write down one word, for how you feel before and after a show.
- Time Check: Notice how many episodes you watch in one sitting. Is it what you planned?
- Mindset Check: Do you walk away with new ideas, or just a sense of “meh”?
When the answer is mostly negative or bored, that’s a sign to shake it up. There’s no rule that says you must keep finishing every mediocre series. In fact, ditching tired TV makes more space for real fun and discovery, now and the next time you sit down to relax.
Refuse to Support Bullying TV Shows
Years ago, everyone on TV shows was nice (remember Bullseye, with lovely Jim Bowen engaging with guests, who were never humiliated, even if they missed the dartboard, and lost the speedboat?)
Today, many TV shows echo social media, offering lazy programmes built on cruel jokes, exclusion and public humiliation. They (sadly) draw big crowds and advertising pounds, creating a society obsessed with bullying, ‘winning’, empty fame and prize money.
It may seem harmless to watch or support such media. But the trouble is that by watching (or even talking about and promoting) such shows, it’s giving ‘quiet approval’ to bullying in disguise.
What we watch and promote, carries real weight, to the kind of society we wish to create. If you care about kindness, the right thing to do is clear: don’t give your support to TV shows that encourage meanness.
Understanding Bullying in TV Shows
If you were ever bullied at school (or in the workplace), you will know the deep lasting damage that it can do. Sometimes for life.
But bullying on screen (just as in real life) wears many masks. It’s more subtle than stealing someone’s lunch money. Sometimes it’s a clever ‘dig’ at someone else’s expense, or contestants ganging up on someone, for cheap laughs. Often it’s mockery dressed up as ‘banter’.
In modern society, we have the awful new phenomenon of ‘ghosting’, where immature people think it’s perfectly okay to just drop all contact with nice people, for no reason. And then not even feel bad, leaving people left behind with mental health issues.
It’s not just ‘harmless fun’ to promote such programs. The producers go out of their way to ensure people are humiliated, and supporting them means you are encouraging them to do more of the same.
It may not affect you, but the after-effects will harm others.
Bullying on Popular Reality TV Shows
Bullying on TV doesn’t always involve shouting or physical fights. Sometimes, it’s hidden as jokes, clever editing, or competitive strategy.
- Britain’s Got Talent: Judges often embarrass contestants. They laugh at talentless acts or make cutting remarks, all while the crowd jeers.
- Come Dine With Me: Sarcastic voiceovers and contestants mocking each other over meals might seem funny, but it usually ends with someone feeling isolated and ridiculed. Interestingly, the European versions of this show are good, with everyone being nice and pleasant to each other .
- Big Brother: Housemates face constant public judgement and pressure. Tasks and arguments are designed to trigger fights and embarrassment.
- The Traitors: The format pushes players to isolate, deceive, and shame each other. Hostile whispering and plotting, leads to cruel behaviour. It spills over into real life, when people forget that honesty is a require character trait for decent people in everyday life.
This normalises harsh behaviour in schools, workplaces, and even homes. Over time, it erodes empathy and turns cruelty into entertainment. Every view, click and promotion helps to keep these bullying programmes on the air. It says to networks and advertisers that there’s profit in nastiness. Once people stop watching, the money (and programmes) will stops.
And the obvious too – all of these programmes are unoriginal, non-creative and incredibly boring!
Choosing Better (nice!) TV Shows
Although most TV these days seems to be either rubbish or bullying or both, the odd decent program is worth watching, like Michael Portillo’s Great Railway Journeys on BBC4.
He may not have been popular as a politician, but since giving up politics and launching into travel programmes, his popularity has soared.
Always polite, nice and enthusiastic, his programmes that follow an ancient book on railway journeys across England (and abroad) make for compulsive viewing:
A little over a year ago, I confessed I couldn’t stand Michael Portillo (Great Continental Railway Journeys) who dressed like an early 1990s gameshow contestant. It pains me to admit this, I got it wrong.
He is a weirdly compelling host. At one point, a woman kisses him on the cheek and he turns to camera and shouts ‘CHOO CHOO!’ at the top of his voice, like the horny wolf from the Tex Avery cartoons.
So fine, I got it wrong. And I hope he never stops making these shows. Stuart Heritage
Same with the delightful Susan Boyle (above, with her ‘work husband’ soundman Jamie). If you don’t already know and love her, you will after watching one of her travel shows. A former lawyer on Death Row in the USA (her late father was the Scottish equivalent of Chris Whitty), she gave it all up to make us laugh. And also wrote a wonderful book on kindness.
Be kind to others. But above all, be kind to you. You deserve it. You can be Wonder Woman if you want to. I know I am. Susan Calman
The Lasting Appeal of Inspector Morse
Inspector Endeavour Morse, created by novelist Colin Dexter, is an Oxford-based detective known for his intelligence and quirks. Morse stands out from most detectives because he often lets his emotions guide him.
He loves opera, enjoys crossword puzzles, and rarely shares much about his past. These layers give him depth and make him hard to pin down, adding to his appeal.
The Inspector Morse TV series first aired on ITV in 1987, running for thirty-three episodes until 2000. John Thaw played Morse, capturing the detective’s mix of prickliness and humanity.
Handsome John Thaw looked older than he was due to his white hair (he was 44 when filming began, and only 60 when he died).
When the series ended, John refused the offer of the famed red Jaguar, saying ‘it was too slow and terrible to drive!’
Shows like these, prove that kindness sells (think of Sir David Attenborough’s shows). Real talent and personality – means bullying, nastiness, ghosting and gossip are never needed, to entertain.
Vintage Films & Community Documentaries
Talking Pictures is a great little channel, that’s free to air. And plays lots of old films from the 40s and 50s. When the world appears to be a much kinder place. It also shows a few more recent series like Maigret. We had a quick look for today’s programmes, and it included vintage films for Batman and Robin Hood, and a thriller directed by Sam Wanamaker.
Not every TV channel pushes drama or negativity. Channels like Together TV focus on stories that help you feel good and spotlight real community spirit. Together TV offers shows about gardening, healthy living, and people turning small ideas into something great. No fighting, no shaming, just honest and interesting stories.
For cooking, read our post on food safety for people & pets. And for gardening, read up on pet-friendly gardens and wildlife-friendly gardens (also how to stop birds flying into windows).
Here are a few types of uplifting shows you might find on channels like Together TV:
- Community Makeovers: Real people improving their local parks or helping a neighbour fix up a home.
- Cooking and Gardening Series: Chefs or home cooks prepping simple, healthy meals with local ingredients.
- Health Joys: Wellness tips anyone can try, from stretching routines to mindfulness breaks.
- Feel-Good Challenges: Series where contestants support each other to learn a new skill, or overcome a small fear.
These shows skip the drama and focus on encouragement. They highlight kindness, growth, and all the things that make life brighter. Instead of zoning out, you might find a new recipe, a community project, or even a hobby you want to try.
Conclusion
Boring TV doesn’t have to be the default option for winding down. Trying just one new activity from these ideas can breathe new life into your evenings, even if it’s as simple as reading a few pages or stepping outside for a short walk. TV isn’t the only way to relax at the end of the day, and often, it doesn’t give you the real break you need.
Pick one swap and see how you feel. You might find yourself smiling more or learning something new. If you try anything from this guide, share your favourites or tips in the comments. Thanks for reading—here’s to better nights, less boredom, and making your free time count.
