I am an adult and while I was a child, our father turned off TV and cable access. He connected internet for a while but later disconnected that down as well. Needless to say, now I am older, it's very hard for me to moderate my film-viewing and internet-using habits. And I have always been wondering, was it because I wasnt allowed to moderate myself when I was little that I cant rid myself addiction?
Nowadays, the only thing that works for me is to print what I want to read, turn off phone and computer, restrict internet access by turning off router, putting the router in hardest to reach places and lay down to read.
Grew up without TV at home. In fact, no electricity at home until mid-teens. Still can’t watch TV to this day. My kind of fun was always out there with kids from the neighborhood running around, kicking a ball, getting tired and getting dirty in the process. As an adult it has been replaced with team sports and physical activities. I want the same experience for my kids. Essentially have fun programs that require them engage in an active way: play music instruments, play a couple of sports, paint, spend a lot of time outdoors.
Yeah... I haven't watched TV for years. I've tried, because we used to do it a lot as kids. But after a while of not having it... nothing is that interesting. The few times I go to a hotel and have live TV, I genuinely try to find something interesting, but it's just not.
I got the opposite, unlimited access while being a kid and difficulty moderating it now.
All of regulations and moderation go to shit the moment one (as an adult) realizes that there is no "real consequence" for unlimited use. The "real consequence" is only what one puts one's mind to be.
(Losing job because of internet addiction? Nvm, find a different one. Getting overweight? It's a silent killer and the effects are years away, plus you get to shop for new clothes. )
Or maybe your father had an addictive personality that he had dealt with in the past before having you, and he wanted to nip it in the bud in case he had passed it down to you (yes, addictive personality is heritable)
Nope, he does not have any addiction that I know of. He can easily pass time without doing things he mostly does and enjoys. His decision mostly stems from other parents (his friends) suggesting him to cut TV.
I had no moderation by parents and I struggled my entire life to moderate my internet/video game addictions. Largely driven by depression and hating social interaction perhaps but still very much a problem that has plagued me my entire life.
You don't need to be so hard on yourself. You clearly like to read enough to make it happen. Many kids these days will never voluntarily read a book for the rest of their lives.
Nowadays, the only thing that works for me is to print what I want to read, turn off phone and computer, restrict internet access by turning off router, putting the router in hardest to reach places and lay down to read.