You probably know someone who spends all Watcher day watching TV. Maybe your significant other, your best friend or maybe even yourself. In any case, it’s one of the most enjoyable things you do on a daily basis. You can spend as much time alone as you want, but you will find that watching television is a good way to stay occupied and keep yourself focused. Here are some tips for staying watchful during the week:
Set a break before bed
If you are really drawn to a certain program or a certain time of the day, try staying out of bed until 5pm or 6pm. You will spend the next few hours doing whatever it is you are paying attention to and you will likely be just as busy. (Buying, watching TV, taking the stairs, etc.) It might be a good idea to set a timer beforehand so you don’t accidentally get out of bed during the early evening hours.
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback
If you are consistently getting the ‘stuck’ comments and questions from others, it might be a sign that you need some help. Be careful not to get overwhelmed by the volume of feedback you are likely to receive. Some people are very responsive, while others might not be interested at all. Don’t stress about it, just accept it and move on.
Stay organized
It is easy to get overwhelmed by emotions and thoughts. However, this only happens when you are not setting boundaries and spending time thinking clearly. You will likely feel like you are wandering aimlessly and have no sense of direction. You can help mitigate this by learning how to prioritize your thoughts. For example, you might want to take a moment to think about what you want to do for the rest of the day, but then quickly reposition your attention to what you want to do for tomorrow. You can also use this same technique to organize your thoughts. For example, you might have a plan for when you will start feeling happy, but you’d like to put it away for a while. Shifting your attention helps you stay focused so that you can focus on what really matters.
Set boundaries with your friends and family
Most of us have an ‘us and them’ kind of relationship. The ‘us’ is our family, friends or coworkers, the ‘them’ is the world. Boundaries are a way of keeping your friends and family safe. When you set boundaries with your friends and family, you are ensuring that they are not being unkind or disrespected. For example, you might say hello to your family and friends when you saw them last, but then wait a few hours before talking to them. This is nice for your friend(s) and family, but harmful for you. You need to set boundaries with those you love, but you also need to set boundaries with those you don’t.
Check the weather before you fly over
If you usually stay in bed or sit on the couch in the middle of the day, try switching to a different room. If you are sitting in your own home, try switching rooms. If you are in a public place, try switching between areas. It will help you stay focused and on-task. The weather can change quite frequently and we are often surprised by how much we need to be in one place at a time. If you are like many people, you might get so consumed by the weather that you don’t even realize you are in the room until you are in the middle of a conversation or looking out the window.
Set aside time for reading, writing or thinking
Reading is a great way to pass the time, but it is not a good way to stay watchful. It might be that you are reading something that you know has something Plot or Correlated to what is happening in the world at the moment. If you tend to be easily excited or overreactionary, reading could be a great way to help calm yourself and focus.
Plan ahead
You will likely spend the majority of your day watching television. Try to stay on the move a little bit, but stay on the same page about where you are going and what you are looking forward to. Planning out what you need to do next will help you stay on course and prevent frustration and burnout from build up.
Keep an eye on what’s really going on (or ‘under the Radar’) and what you can do about it
If you are constantly being overcommitted or underreactionary, you might want to consider trying a different type of meditation. Try to look at things as though they are not the most important thing in the world, but rather as though you are on a cruise ship in international waters. You need to take a break, clear your head and relax before you can get back to business. You might also consider looking into different ways to spend your downtime. Travel, entertainment, spending time with your family or friends? Whatever you need to do, do it! But don’t miss out on any of the things that are really important to you!
Stay in touch with what’s really going on (or ‘under the Radar’) and what you can do about it
It can be tough to stay in touch with the things that matter, but it needs to be done. Many of us are lucky enough to have the ability to get in touch with the ‘under the radar’, so to speak. It is amazing how quickly things can change in a short time. You might be looking at a new job, have a baby on the way or just want to spend time with your family. Any of these things can wait. You need to stay in touch with what is happening in the world, but also with what you can do about it.
