This is not a piece of research but an important note based on simple observations from daily life. I had been noticing for years that when I wake up in the morning, I am neither fresh nor enthusiastic to start a new day. Initially I kept blaming my changed routine after marriage, especially the late night social gatherings for affecting my sleep pattern. I had always followed a strict bed time routine but after marriage it suddenly changed.

My in-laws are in the habit of sleeping late at night and waking up late in the morning. My body strongly protested against this odd routine but gradually I also developed some immunity and adjusted to the family routine. But then still something was wrong… even after years I was unable to wake up fresh… after all, nine years were enough to adjust.

Then one day while surfing the net, I came across an article in which adverse effects of television were discussed. Initially, I found it to be a repetition of the already known facts but then a point caught my attention. It stated that a television set in the bedroom not only affects the sleep pattern of all individuals living in that room but also adversely affects their other activities in one way or another.

Children seem to be less productive at school; adults remain lethargic and their efficiency at work gradually declines. What stunned me more was the realisation that though bedroom TV is considered a source of light recreation, the absorption of too much infotainment actually works to stress out the nerves. It was also mentioned in the related articles that the change is not sudden… but slow and is felt after a lot of time had passed.

For me things were becoming vividly clear as I continued to search in the same context. I had always loved watching TV but a set in the lounge or any other common place could definitely be used with some restraint. But when I got a TV set in my bedroom watching movies, aimless flipping of channels and going through the many ‘breaking stories’ became a habit even after I had retired for the night. At times hours were wasted flipping channels or an average play was watched for no reason at all. But this was done as a habit that I thought necessary for myself.

Mrs Elahi, a housewife, previously had a television set in her bedroom but recently she has removed it. When asked about the change she said, “I was tired of aimless flipping of channels and continuous repetition of news stories that just got on my nerves. I also noticed that my husband and I talked less to each other and indulged more in TV. My kids also complained that whenever their dad was at home, he spent more time watching TV than with them.

“It is much better now. After watching TV for a while in the lounge the body aches for bed and each one of us heads to our rooms. If we are not sleepy, we can read a book, newspaper, a digest, a good magazine or talk to each other. I mean this is how family life should be.”

“I am against TV in the newlywed’s bedroom,” says Mrs Siddiqui. “They need to get to know each other, understand each other, and as in this fast paced life everyone has limited time, instead of wasting time watching senseless TV programmes they can invest those hours getting to know themselves. As for television, it should be used for information and entertainment, provided it does not infiltrate in your private moments.”

“I lie down in my bed at night and watch TV, but my doctor says that it is one of the prime reasons of worsened headache and drastic fall of the eyesight,” Shaista reveals.

“Once I stopped watching television in excess and kept it out of my room, I have somehow begun to use the computer for more productive work. I am glad my time is better consumed now,” Nausheen, a housewife, shared her experience.

Whatever the case, too much intrusion of anything in the private lives of individuals has its effects. For a healthy life it is important to share more time with your family members, listen to them, share their problems and help them out. As a parent instead of always watching talk shows at night, give this precious time to your kids… read out some stories to them; after all, this is what they would cherish in their future. Or listen to each other’s thoughts… this is what will eventually strengthen the foundation of your family life.