Replace habitual television and rolling news with scheduled information checks
Americans aged 15 or older spent 2.6 hours daily watching television, half their leisure time. Chinese residents averaged 1 hour 40 minutes, and those aged 75–84 averaged 3 hours 16 minutes. Scheduled information checks can reclaim part of that block.
What it takes
Free. Break the automatic viewing habit, accepting that some immediate updates may be missed.
What you may gain
US 2025 figures show 2.6 hours of daily television among people aged 15 or older out of 5.2 leisure hours. China's 2018 figures show 1 hour 40 minutes overall and 3 hours 16 minutes at ages 75–84.
Context & considerations
These are aggregate totals, not studies tracking what people do with time freed by reducing television or news. Scheduled checking is the author's practical suggestion.
Research & references
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026). American Time Use Survey — 2025 Results. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm ; National Bureau of Statistics of China (2019). 2018 National Time Use Survey Bulletin. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202302/t20230203_1900224.html