The Food Channel and Golf

Generally I am against TV. Mostly because I love it. I wouldn't be against it if I were better at turning it off, but I'm not, so I am. And in general I don't think it counts as a particularly healthy stress reducer. But there's an exception to every rule.

I was talking to Kara the other night about the food channel and how i find watching the food channel to be very calming and she said, "you should blog about that." And I think she was right. So here I am.

Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon and its rainy and nasty out and you don't have anything in particular you need to do and you just want to chill. Lie on the couch. Be lazy. Do nothing. Drift in and out of sleep. Well let me tell you, the food channel and golf are heaven to me when I am in that mood.

I find both watching people play golf and people cooking strangely relaxing. Golf usually has those announcers who talk nice and slow (because if you're a golf announcer you better talk slow because it goes on forever) and in low voices because you can't disturb the golfers. And I can drift in and out of sleep and still follow the game without feeling like I have missed much. Of course, if you follow professional golf with great interest this may not be as relaxing for you (although, I swear, some of those announcers have voices that are hypnotic). If that's the case, might I suggest the Food Network?

Once again, totally soothing! Its harder for me to put my finger on why. Maybe its because for me cooking, especially cooking that doesn't involve pasta or eggs, is challenging. And even stressful. But on TV its effortless. Everything is measured out. No one has to do the dishes. Nothing comes out burned or overcooked. Its like a magical land! mmm.... I feel content just thinking about.

So that's my tip. Next time you are in need of doing nothing for a little while (which is an important stress reduction tool!), but you're brain isn't quite ready to turn off for a full on nap, try golf or food. On TV.

PS. If you attempt to cook any of the things on the food network I am certain it loses all of its stress relieving capabilities.