If the world is ending, it will be conversation worthy, and I promise you that you will hear about it. In time to stop it? Ummm, let’s be realistic: You cannot stop the world from ending, if that is what is going to happen. That being said, click Unsubscribe, Unfollow, and do whatever you need to do in order to not be flooded with the doom & gloom, anxiety, division, and in general malcontent that is being peddled every hour of every day. It’s only for 60 days. While your anxiety might go up for a few days over not getting your daily “fix”, by the time day 60 hits you will most likely no longer be addicted to the drama machine and decide to opt out permanently.

Yes, you probably paid a lot of money for it. Yes, you probably pay monthly subscriptions. But, if you are reading this I imagine you have decided that less anxiety, better quality of life, and true peace inside your soul are worth more than 60 days worth of paid subscriptions. The price is: Turning Off Your TV. Again, it’s just 60 days. Call and put your subscriptions on hold, if that is an option.

Wanna watch a movie? Go to a movie theatre. Buy concessions. Live the experience. Your regular shows will be waiting for you, if/when you decide to go back to them.

Turn off your television and read a book. Play a game. Have a conversation (in person or over the phone). Go for a walk. Go to the gym. Take a yoga class. Take the kids to the playground. Plan & have a picnic. Chill by a bonfire. Go camping. Take an online class. Learn a new skill. Try something new. Go to that Meetup event that popped up in your notifications. Write a poem. Write a book. The possibilities are endless! Turn off your television. Exchange binge watching reality TV for real life living, and experience the benefits of what it means to truly “tune in” to life rather than tuning out.

Food is life. Literally. Without food, we have no fuel for our bodies. For 60 days, be exceptionally mindful of the food you put in your body. Choose fresh ingredients. Treat preparing them as a ritual offering to yourself and your loved ones. Embrace the preparation as Mindful Meditation.

Share the experience and ask your family to help you. Host a potluck dinner. Share recipes, instead of gossip. Prepare your lunch to take to work. With the extra sleep you get from turning off your TV, you should have no problem getting up 30 minutes early to do so. Or, prepare it the night before. Skip the fast food lines and vending machines during this time. Want a muffin with your coffee? Bake it. Consider trading your automatic coffee makers for a pourover pot or a French Press. Buy the organic, fair trade beans for this time period. Going out to eat? Consider a farm to table restaurant, a vegan restaurant, or at least someplace new. Someplace that doesn’t consider take-out to be their specialty. Why? Because you are worth it.

Go outside. Smell the flowers. Listen to the birds. Watch dogs. Watch people. They are both fascinating creatures!lol Sit by a river, close your eyes, and tune out everything else. Kick your shoes off and walk barefoot in the dirt and the grass. Get your hands dirty. Hug a tree. Pick flowers and make a bouquet for your work desk. Soak up the sun. Splash in mud puddles. Run a 5k, or just walk around the park. Go solo or invite someone else that would enjoy some fresh air.

Studies have shown that “Earthing”, being in direct physical contact with the Earth’s electrons that lie on the surface, has numerous health benefits. Lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation, better sleep at night, and let’s not even get started on the mental benefits!

Spend 30 minutes a day with The Mother. She misses you.

No TV for 60 days. No news to read for 60 days. That leaves plenty of time for reading! Spend 30 minutes every day reading. Read & recite poetry. Read that best seller that you bought 2 years ago that is collecting dust on your bookshelf. Read to your kids. Read under a tree in the park. Bring a book or Kindle with you everywhere and use idle time to sneak in a few pages.

Consider taking public transportation for 60 days and use the commute to read and relax. All those magazines from non-profit subscription drives that you just couldn’t say no to? Now is a great time to thumb through those pages and read the stories. They are short and to the point, for those lacking long attention spans. They also give you something interesting to talk about at the water cooler or with your mom on the phone. The great thing about moms is that they generally don’t care what you talk about; they just want you to talk to them. Take advantage of it.

Life is more interesting when we mix it up! For the next 60 days, do 1 thing every day that is new…or old! By old, I mean engage in something that you used to love doing, but no longer do. We all fall into routine and certain things go by the wayside. This is the perfect time to bring them back, while also engaging in new activities. Don’t skip a day of this, and feel free to share it with your friends, family, and on social media. Let people experience the journey that is Your Life By Design, Not By Default

-Make a list of foods you have never tried, but are open to, and then start ticking them off the list. Chronicle this and share with others!

-Set up an easel & canvas and become a plein air artist for the day. Or have your partner pose nude and sketch them.

-Go to a museum or gallery you have always wanted to visit. Or go to one you have been to and see a new exhibit. Attend a lecture.

-Go on a historical, architectural, or some other kind of tour of your area. Visit the local Historical Society. Learn about the place you call home.

-Listen to a new genre of music for a week. Read a type of book you might not normally choose. Go to a concert without knowing who the artist is (local bands and SoFar Sounds concerts are great for doing this)

-Take a class. Pottery, basket weaving, leather working, tax filing, gardening, bird watching, plant identification, cooking, whatever! See what is available in your area and pick one. Or pick several. If you are picking several, set aside a budget to take a class that might not initially seem like something you might like…and then take it! If you don’t like it, you never have to do it again. Then again, you may find a new passion to pursue.

-Learn to play an instrument, or learn to read sheet music. Both are fascinating.

There are so many things to experience in the world. Get out there and take advantage of it!