Do you do other things while watching TV?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206644)
Walnut Creek, California
November 8, 2015 9:12pm CST
I tend to be a multitasker to the extent that it's possible. I've been avoiding the NFL for the past year or so, but today, I decided to see how the 49ers would fare with a new quarterback. While the game was on, I cooked some (late) lunch, left some comments on MyMot (and even on Bubblews), and replaced the four wound strings on my mandolin. The mandolin sounds a bit bright to me now, even though it was the four "lowest " strings I replaced. But hopefully the strings will settle in and sound good. Do you tend to cook, knit, practice or string an instrument, or otherwise multitask while watching TV?
29 people like this
36 responses
@LadyDuck (459353)
• Switzerland
9 Nov 15
I tend to be multitasking, but when I sit to relax in front of the TV I do nothing else. It is true that I only turn on the TV to watch a movie, if it's not interesting I quit, but if it is interesting I want to follow the movie and nothing else.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (206644)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov 15
@sugartoes So your TV time is TV time, not multitasking time.
@DeborahDiane (40066)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Nov 15
I do most of my online writing while I watch TV, because television cannot hold my attention by itself!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326170)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Nov 15
I'm more likely to be doing something too. I find it difficult to just sit and watch.
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
9 Nov 15
i do my best to avoid watchin' t.v. - the hubs plays it loud the whole time he's home. whilst he watched/slept through all the games today, i worked'n my scrap fabric pile. finished off a tote bag 'n made 3 quilted potholders. while cleanin' up the kitchen 'fter his e'ery trip 'n takin' 'part 10 pairs 'f worn out jeans....so i can stitch together 'nother jean quilt.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
9 Nov 15
@JudyEv sittin' idle makes me a bit nutty, ms. judy. i wish i'd been able to get more done actually.
@TheHorse did my best, hon. would've been happier if'n i'd gotten those jeans cut into squares fer my project, but i'll take what i did get done 'n run. got most'f 'em cut out earlier today 'n then the hands said no more.
@TheHorse (206644)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx Sounds pretty productive to me!
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
9 Nov 15
When I was a kid I loved to play my guitar, have the TV running in the background and study for a test all at the same time. As the years passed I watched less and less TV and not I hardly ever turn it on. so I guess to you my answer is no because I don't watch a lot of TV. Only when a really good film is playing late at night I might watch this to relax before sleeping.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
9 Nov 15
@TheHorse I moved so much from one job to another that most places we lived in didn't have a TV. I think this was the best time because we had a lot more time to talk at night and to do other things together. This is what kept our group tight and in a good way so that we always helped each other and worked so well together.
@chance216 (280)
• United States
9 Nov 15
Sometimes Like to sketch when watching tv. It can be a good source of inspiration.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159538)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Nov 15
I remember posting a discussion much like this years back on the old Mylot. I watch TV and write or do Mylot.
@celticeagle (159538)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Nov 15
@TheHorse ...I don't feel like I am totally able to concentrate when the TV is on but I sure can't turn it off either. I might miss something.
@TheHorse (206644)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov 15
Did you get similar responses? I think this just occurred to me as I was watching the 49ers game and stringing my mandolin. I like @ElizabethWallace 's response. It made me think about whether I'm sacrificing being fully present in what I'm doing when I have the TV on while doing other things. When I refinish my loudspeakers (repetitive sanding, which I call "meditation") I often have music on in the background. But I think I'm still fully present with the wood.
1 person likes this
@jhieeen (74)
• Philippines
9 Nov 15
While watchinh TV, Im also using my cellphone to watch also hehe
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
9 Nov 15
I play with my iPad while watching TV especially if its boring like football...
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
10 Nov 15
@TheHorse I married a football player who turned into a football coach and spent years in the stadium seats, took the kids to see, never missed a game, The kids are grown, the hubby is retired. No more football for me except the big end games, the playoffs the bowl games. We have two TV's for that very reason because he never misses a game.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
9 Nov 15
I prefer to live my life mindfully. This means that I do not multi-task. I immerse myself in one activity at a time. I do, however, hit pause during commercials in order to get up and move around the house. This has the benefit of keeping the blood flowing, but I also do a couple of things while I am up. Does this count as multi-tasking? I don't think so, since when I am up and about, I am no longer watching TV.
@TheHorse (206644)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov 15
Yeah, I'd say it's something else. A certain friend and I talk about mindfulness a lot. And I weave it into my classes when I talk about savoring little joys. Perhaps there is no true multitasking, but only moving from one thing to another. As I put a string on my mandolin, I was fully present with the mandolin. But if I heard excitement on the TV, I might look up. If I have my coffee water heating up and clothes in the dryer while writing on MyLot, is that true multitasking?
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
9 Nov 15
@TheHorse I think it is the switching your focus or trying to divide it that ruins fully enjoying an experience. When i put wet clothes into the dryer, they are gone from my attention, until the heater beeps.
@birjudanak (14319)
• India
9 Nov 15
when i watch tv at that time i will become hungry i like to eat
@birjudanak (14319)
• India
9 Nov 15
@TheHorse eating is good but when it become habit in night then become fatty
@babaraimc (1310)
• Pakistan
9 Nov 15
i mostly like sports channels on TV, and during matches i keep my books open
trying to ,rather pretending to be a Bookworm.
i also use my Mobile during this period
and a little bit of eating as well
@TheHorse (206644)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov 15
Sports are the only thing watch on TV (at home) with any consistency. Baseball is my favorite. The Golden State Warriors are a good basketball team right now, so Ill be watching a few of (but not all of) their games. And probably practicing guitar or mandolin while I do it.
1 person likes this
@workguddu (155)
• Shillong, India
9 Nov 15
While watching TV i generally read my mails , checkout mylot and when im hungry eat too.
@Marilynda1225 (79974)
• United States
9 Nov 15
I always have a craft project to do while watching tv. I can't just sit and watch something without having my hands busy too.
@fawkes62 (1276)
• United States
9 Nov 15
We don't watch a lot of TV as my son is glued to it if it's on. When it is on I tend to multitask by working on my cross stitch, learning to crochet, or by doing stuff on the computer. The only time I don't multitask is when we are having a family movie, then we just watch the movie and cuddle.
@seekerpoet (1)
• Indore, India
9 Nov 15
Yes i love to do multitasking along watching tv. I tune up my guitar too while finishing up the news i don't get time to look at any othet time during day. Trying to play random solo scales while watching any show makes me find out better tunes. Another best use of tv watching time is trim ming out my nails. A needed task. ;)
@mushluh (10)
• Israel
9 Nov 15
i just can eat and drink while i watch tv... ha ha im not a multitasker
