Something that I left out in my post about Tools of Titans yesterday, something that I’ve noticed in a few books that profile extremely successful people: all of them read regularly, and none of them watch TV. You don’t see any interviews of business moguls in which they say, “I really love that show True Blood, I’ve watched it multiple times.” You never hear a famous author gush about the Marvel movie franchise.

Now, I myself indulge in watching movies, and since buying a new TV last week have certainly been overindulging. Who doesn’t enjoy classic Christmas movies during the holiday season? I’m not trying to say TV is evil, just that it’s simply a form of entertainment. And how much time do you spend on entertainment? Successful people spend their time building their skillsets, on building their portfolio of work. Reading can equip one with new knowledge and insight, even new skills, in a myriad of ways that TV could never compete. People who have made an impact have succeeded because they think outside the proverbial square box.

Down time is important, and we all struggle on some level to maintain that ever so precious balance between rigor and recharge. But time in front of the TV, and really all screens, certainly siphons our productivity, creativity, and psychological freedom.