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Episode: Turn screen time into a party

Author: iHeartPodcasts
Duration: 00:05:23

Episode Shownotes

To make TV more satisfying, don't watch aloneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Transcript

00:00:03 Speaker_00
What's up, y'all? So on a recent episode of Questlove Supreme, my co-hosts, Ampey Bill and Sugar Steve and I sat down with the king at rock of the Beastie Boys. We talked about the early days of the Beasties, digging for records around the globe, and how he makes music these days in a cabin in the mountains. Oh, and this jewel. I was trying to start a band in the 90s called the Nasal Tongues. Me and Q-Tip and MC Milk and B-Real.

00:00:26 Speaker_00
Listen to Questlove Supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio.

00:00:42 Speaker_00
Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is that if you are going to watch TV, you can make this time more satisfying by turning screen time into a party.

00:00:58 Speaker_00
Today's tip, like some other recent ones, comes from Sarah Hart Unger, my co-host on the Best of Both Worlds podcast.

00:01:11 Speaker_00
She mentioned that a recent highlight in her life had been watching the Dance Moms season finale with her family. They knew it was coming up, they all planned to be together to watch it, they gathered with special snacks, and they enjoyed the experience together.

00:01:25 Speaker_00
In other words, they turned TV time into a party. I love this idea. Contrary to what you might assume, I am not totally anti-TV.

00:01:39 Speaker_00
I don't watch myself, other than the occasional sports game, but I know that there is a lot of excellent TV on offer these days.

00:01:49 Speaker_00
The key to making TV time feel more like a treat, rather than a waste of time, is to be intentional about watching it. Consciously enjoying screen time with other people is a great way to do that. So think about how you might lean into TV as a shared experience.

00:02:06 Speaker_00
Maybe you and your family all like a particular show. Maybe it's one that's been out for a while, or maybe it's a new one coming up. Maybe you and your friends all generally enjoy some major cultural experience, like the Super Bowl, the Oscars, or the weekend games of one of your local sports teams.

00:02:22 Speaker_00
Maybe you all like movie adaptations of Jane Austen books or any show with Benedict Cumberbatch. Think about what is truly must-see TV for you.

00:02:38 Speaker_00
Then, once you have figured out what you enjoy most, figure out when you're going to watch it collectively. For certain live events like the Academy Awards, that's easy to do. But these days, a lot of stuff can be watched whenever.

00:02:52 Speaker_00
The problem with that is that people don't think about it ahead of time, so they don't get the benefit of anticipation. So, think about it.

00:03:01 Speaker_00
Put a specific time on your calendar and make sure your friends and family are on board, so you can look forward to watching together. You and your kids could start getting psyched up for Wicked Movie Night on an upcoming Friday. Or you could invite your friends over to watch The Breakfast Club on the first morning kids are back in school after spring break.

00:03:17 Speaker_00
You could host a small Jane Austen watching party. Or even watch while FaceTiming a far-flung friend.

00:03:31 Speaker_00
Even if you don't do this quite so formally, you can still embrace the concept of looking forward to collective TV watching. For instance, maybe you and your partner love watching Emily in Paris anytime you are not wiped out after your kids go to bed.

00:03:43 Speaker_00
You could text him in the afternoon to say you are looking forward to your post-bedtime watch party tonight.

00:03:55 Speaker_00
The anticipation can add to the fun, and maybe you guys will bring your A-game to getting the kids down as a result. Finally, if your screen time is a party, then treat it like a party.

00:04:09 Speaker_00
Most parties have some sort of food, and that is certainly a good option for screen time parties too. My family likes having wings and nachos if we are watching a football game. If you are watching a movie, maybe you'd like a bowl of popcorn or even Milk Duds if that is your movie theater treat of choice.

00:04:27 Speaker_00
You could eat something related to what you are watching, like scones if you're watching The Crown. You could potentially get out props or costumes. Break out the sleeping bags and pillows if you and your kids are watching something a little after bedtime. Or invite friends to wear cool hats for a Kentucky Derby party.

00:04:49 Speaker_00
Whatever form your party takes, the main idea is to be intentional and to treat this time as more special than just vegging out because you have nothing better to do. A lot of screen time is wasted time, but when it's a party, it isn't. And I'm a big fan of using all time well.

00:05:05 Speaker_00
In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening.