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51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

By Robert Pagliarini | May 19, 2009 |

What could you do with 51 ½ hours?

You could make an extra $1,000 if you earn $20 an hour. You could burn 43,000 calories if you jog. You could read several books. You could start writing a book. You could learn the basics of a new language. You could start a blog and write 25 posts. You could read the New Testament. You could walk 150 miles. You could learn the waltz. You could program an internet application. You could get closer to every family member and friend you have. You could have lunch with your clients/customers. You could implement Getting Things Done. You could serve over 6,000 bowls of soup at your local soup kitchen. You could teach your son how to play baseball.

Yes, you could do all of those things and a million others with 51 ½ hours, but if you’re like the 30 or so million other Americans, you spent those 51 ½ hours watching this season of American Idol.  That’s how many how many hours AI was on this year.

Listen, I’m a big fan of the show and have learned a few things from watching it, but it makes me sick to think how much time I have wasted. So, fellow AI fans, here’s our challenge: now that the show is ending, how can we fill the AI void?

It would be easy to fill that void with another mindless TV show, but let’s aim a little higher. Instead of sitting down on Tuesday and Wednesday night and grabbing the remote, think about that one thing you’ve been putting off and start working on it.  Or think of that big goal you’ve wanted to achieve and get started on it.

The other 8 hours are your passport to a better life. What will you do with yours?

(TV image by Aaron Escobar, CC 2.0)

For a limited time, you can download several free resources (assessment, poster, audio interview, video, and more) at www.other8hours.com and learn more about my new book, The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose.

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  •  
    1

    MoneyMama

    05/20/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    51 1/2 hours, eh? That's crazy. But Adam Lambert was worth it!! happy

    Thanks for the challenge -- I am not going to fill the void with another TV show (all the good seasons have ended anyway).

    I have really enjoyed your blog posts, Robert. Thanks for keeping us motivated to use our other 8 hours.

  •  
    2

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/20/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @MoneyMama My pleasure! So, how will you fill the void?

  •  
    3

    pieterbpm

    05/21/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    There are many things one can do with 51 hours but I think I've wasted much more surfing the net, reading useless information and getting lost in front of my computer screen. Sometimes 51 hours of good entertainment restores the balance. Pity about Adam.

  •  
    4

    jcourtney

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    Thankfully I didn't waste 51 Hours with American "Idle". Instead I opted to read some good books to keep my mind from becoming a mass media programmed mush.

  •  
    5

    lease777

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    I don't have a TV. I walk/jog, and can fit into clothes from high school (35 years ago). Read a lot of books, go to grad school, engage in several hobbies (gardening, sewing .. ) and make time for friends and family. I hear all the "scoop" on the radio the next morning, don't feel like I'm missing a thing!

  •  
    6

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @pieterbpm There's no shortage of things that can slowly sap our time. As long as we are consciously making the decision to watch, surf, etc, it's fine, but I think for many, we let these activities take our time without putting up much of a fight. (Adam got robbed!)

  •  
    7

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @jcourtney That is genius--American "Idle." So true...

  •  
    8

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @lease777 No TV? It sounds like you've filled your nights with other activities (congrats on your health!), but do you have a time wasting substitute? In other words, what's your time drain vice?

  •  
    9

    Canadian_A

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    Whether we choose to admit it or not, AI (and the equally mind-numbing Canadian version) and 99% of the rest of what's on TV is simply a diversion that is sapping us of energy and soggifying our brains. All the while very important events are unfolding around the world and we the people can't be bothered to educate ourselves about them or get involved.

    Everyone grumbles when our city taxes go up but how many people actually go and confront their civic representatives for an explanation? How much of our tax dollars are being used to fight wars or bail out unethical financial institutions when an ounce of those funds could feed school-children across the country a nutritious breakfast at school that their parents can't afford to give them at home?

    Use the 51.5 hours to actually engage with your world and demand accountability from our governments and our industries. Otherwise, you can just sit at home and shout at the evening news, continuing to complain but not ready to do a thing about it.

  •  
    10

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @Canadian_A Mind numbing is right . . . research shows watching TV produces a near coma-like state. So the million dollar question is why don't we get involved? Why don't we invest 30 minutes a day exercising to get healthier? Why don't we do what we know we should do? I think the short answer is we do what gives us pleasure. Watching TV makes us feel better right now. Fighting city hall is painful and the gratification of winning is uncertain and could take months. The only way we'll take action is if we can build up the perceived future reward or the future pain of inaction.

    It reminds me of the bumper sticker "If you're not angry you're not paying attention." We first must really care about something--lower taxes, better health, etc. before we will take any steps toward it. That's one of the reasons why watching too much TV is so damaging because it (a) causes us not to think about what really matters--ourselves, our life, our friends, our health, etc. and (b) causes us to think about what doesn't matter--the lives of fictitious characters or celebrities.

  •  
    11

    bholaway

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    The same was said of fans of Shakespeare in his day. I watch American Idol for the same reason millions of football fans watch the NFL, because everone likes a good story. Human beings are hardwired for story. The producers of American Idol are masters at getting viewiers to ask the question, "what happens next".

  •  
    12

    darrell@...

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    Get a Tivo do it in 8hrs.

  •  
    13

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @bholaway Good stories are good, but here's the rub for me. I talk to a lot of people who want more . . . money, energy, relationships, success, etc but these same people spend 4, 5, or more hours a day watching TV. TV can be a relaxing hobby--I watched AI this season--as long as you do it purposefully and leave some time for other pursuits.

  •  
    14

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @darrell 8, huh? That's impressive. I NEVER watched it live either and was able to condense three hours down to about an hour or so.

  •  
    15

    Stacey Bradford

    05/25/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    I tend to think of my evening television viewing as my time to relax. But now that you've pointed out how many hours are dedicated to following a reality show, I wish I had picked up a new hobby instead. There's no way I'm going to watch the new AI season!

  •  
    16

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/26/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @Stacey I'm all for relaxing and I enjoy watching TV, but like you I was blown away at the amount of time spent watching AI. This post has made me make a more conscious decision about the time I do watch TV and what I'm giving up by doing it.

  •  
    17

    drose123

    05/27/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    I think most people would be surprised that they have used 51.5 hours of their time watching a television show, since it's served to us in small weekly doses. I know I've always wished for more time to learn something new or get my daily tasks done! Thanks for opening my eyes as to where I can gain back some time into my life. My guilty pleasure wasn't AI, but DWTS (which I took a pass on watching this season) and guess what...didn't miss it at all.

  •  
    18

    Robert Pagliarini

    05/27/09 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @drose123 I think you discovered the secret. Nobody would take a week off from work to watch 51.5 hours of AI, but they don't think twice when they get small doses of it. The trick then, is to use this to our advantage. Got a big goal? Don't get hung up on all the time it will take to reach it. Instead work on it in small chunks of time and before you know it, you'll have achieved it.

  •  
    19

    cjtaz

    01/20/10 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    AI is my only vice...my only obsession. It is the only show that I actually plan to watch...the only one that I will take time to actually sit down and watch.

    But I already knew that was a big waste of time so I multitask, doing pretty mindless yet necessary things while I watch the show. There are all kinds of things I can get done...if I have a menial task to do I save them up for AI Time! Like fold towels, matchup socks (family of 5 - we always have a sock basket full of clean socks that need to be dealt with), delete junk/spam emails, cull magazines and newspapers, straighten bookshelves, file, EXERCISE, iron, give myself a manicure, sew crafts by hand or sew on missing buttons, etc to repair clothing just waiting to be worn again, or...

    I can just sit down with my DH and kids and call it fun family time in which we all stop with our busy lives and actually do something together - we do other things too, but there is nothing wrong with simply enjoying the moment with my loved ones!

    Loved Chris Daughtry, David Cook, & Adam Lambert!
    Who will be my fave this year? Can't wait to see!!

  •  
    20

    Robert Pagliarini

    01/31/10 | Report as spam

    RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

    @cjtaz Love your tips . . . AND your choice in music! We need more rockers!

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Robert Pagliarini

Robert Pagliarini is a man on a mission. He is obsessed with improvement and making the most of the “other 8 hours” -- the 8 hours not spent sleeping or working. He’s also obsessed with empowering others to live life to the fullest by radically changing the way they spend their other 8 hours.
Robert is the author of The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose and the No. 1 bestseller Six-Day Financial Makeover. He has appeared as an expert on 20/20, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, ABC Morning News, and in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Money Magazine, and many others. Robert is the president of Pacifica Wealth Advisors, Inc., a boutique wealth management firm specializing in sudden money recipients. He is a Certified Financial Planner and has a master’s degree in financial services.

Robert Pagliarini

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