Who wants to be a couch potato? Well, as a matter of fact, many
people do, and for understandable reasons. Maybe it's your one day
off, maybe you just got back from practice, or a hard week at work.
Maybe you're just tired and want everything intellectually and
physically demanding to just flee for a time.
Whatever the reason, you can be a prime example of a couch potato by
crashing on the couch and using the fun techniques outlined here,
aimed at helping you to find the ultimate relaxation in front of the
TV.
!! Steps !!
Prepare the couch space Prepare the couch potato spot. Choose the
best place in the room for reclining in complete comfort. If there's
competition for the best spot, reserve it, or do a deal to get it for
your couch potato slouch time. Perfect places to sit include a
reclinable chair, beanbag, or, (you knew it was coming) a couch.
Add cushions, pillows, blankets, and anything else that will
increase your comfort level. Make it even more comfortable than it
already is, but with minimal effort, of course!
* Angle the couch for optimal TV viewing if it's not already in
position.
* Be sure to have the remote control (or controls) all within easy
reach of your chosen spot. A TV guide is also a good item to keep
handy.
* It's a good idea to locate a small trash can near the couch so
that you can toss packaging, lids, and anything else hassling you
straight into it without having to get up. It makes cleaning up
after your couch potato experience a breeze.
Prepare the sustenance. A couch slouch needs to be accompanied by
snacks and drinks. Junk food is a couch potato's traditional fare
but you don't have to stick to just chips, nuts, candies, and
chocolate. You might also like unbuttered popcorn, veggie sticks and
dips, pumpkin seeds, toast and jam, etc. Basically, whatever you
enjoy consuming in front of the TV is the best choice!
* Drinks can range from water, juice, milk, and soda, to beer, wine,
and spirits. If you've got a bar fridge nearby, keep them cool and
handy. If not, find a helper willing to fetch for you when you run
out of your favorite drink.
Prepare the couch distractions. While the main aim of being a couch
potato is to watch TV, the occasional distraction is welcome. Stock
up on celebrity magazines, comic books, graphic novels, handheld
games machines, iPad or laptop for surfing at leisure, and maybe a
pack or cards for a game of Solitaire. If you've got a Wii,
Playstation, Xbox, or any other game device, make sure it's all in
order and ready to play.
* When surfing, places to find out key information about what you're
watching include Hulu, IMDB, and Fancast, as well as the TV show's
own homepage. The modern couch potato no longer has to lie there
wondering "who's that guy?!" when a flick of the iPad placed right
next to your couch can reveal all.
* If you're not so keen to watch what's on TV, have a pile of DVDs
already slotted in to go, or access to paid movies via your
provider.
* Have your favorite video games sorted and ready to play.
Competition for the couch! Deal with the potential for distractions.
If there are other members of the household wanting to use the same
room or even couch, it's deal time. Negotiate your space for the
duration of your couch potato relaxation and ask politely that they
either don't disturb you, or join in. The more couch potatoes, the
merrier, provided they're all on the same wavelength.
* Turn off all phones; don't forget to unhook the landline.
* Turn off or go invisible on your Facebook, Skype, and Gmail chat
programs, and any other chat program that lets people know you're
online. That way, unless you feel like chatting while being a
couch potato, an occasional surf from the couch won't alert anyone
to your presence.
Enjoy your sojourn on the couch. You've set everything up, removed
the distractions, and settled in. Now it's time to enjoy your couch
potato fest.
* Turn on the TV. Flip through TV channels if you don't like what's
on. Channel surfing can take up a good deal of time until it bores
you. Give each show about 10 seconds to entertain you, and if it
doesn't, just move onto the next one. If it does, watch until the
show ends, or until you lose interest.
* Munch on snacks and sip your drinks.
* Play video games when the TV gets too boring. Or do both at the
same time – watch TV and play a game.
* Watch DVDs if you don't like the TV programming.
* Snooze as and when you like.
* Basically, don't do anything that requires much effort, or any
effort at all. Take care not to play any video games that are too
strenuous and require you to move too much!
Cheers! Bribe some servants. Siblings, friends, or housemates might
be amenable to being bribed into fetching more food and drinks for
you if you're lucky. Your luck will depend on who you ask and how, as
well as what's in it for them. Be super nice and suck up to them;
promise them something similar in return when they want to do the
couch potato. Or just give in to their choice of TV for half an hour.
* Consider training your dog to fetch your beer. No need to get up
and Fido gets a workout in spire of your supine state.
A more exciting way to add a modicum of exercise... Exercise the
couch potato way. If you're feeling a bit guilty that you haven't
been to the gym that day because you were just too pooped, try these
couch potato exercises while continuing to watch TV:[1]
* Lie across your couch, on your back. Bring one knee up to your
chest, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat three times with
alternate legs.
* Briefly stand up and hold your arms out to the sides. While
watching TV, make eight big circles in one direction, then eight
in the other direction.
* While standing, raise one foot and use it to trace the letters of
the alphabet in the air in front of you (use the couch arm to
support you). Repeat with the other foot. Then lie on the floor
and tense your thigh and abdominal muscles. Raise one leg about 6
inches (15 cm) off the ground, then lower. Repeat four to six
times before switching to the other leg.
* Get back on the couch now, you're probably exhausted.
The result of too much time spent on the couch... Be a couch potato
in moderation. Obviously, following a couch potato lifestyle daily
isn't conducive to good health, and a sedentary lifestyle without
proper exercise and nutrition is the cause of numerous preventable
health problems, including ones that can lead to early death.[2] It's
also a really bad message to send to any kids around you.[3] However,
a couch potato session undertaken now and then as part of lifestyle
focused on a healthy diet and exercise won't do you any harm, and
will improve your sense of well-being as a result of the pleasure and
relaxation derived from it.
* Make it a friends' affair. Socializing with people you care about
and have fun with is better than health insurance.
!! Tips !!
* Only get up if absolutely necessary, for example, to go to the
bathroom!
* When eating food items that are crumbly (such as chips) don't even
bother cleaning it up. Or, if you're super sensitive to a mess or
crumbs, have plenty of paper towels on hand and use that trash can
to stuff it all out of sight.
* Having a subscription to an online movie renting service (like
Netflix) makes things easier when someone won't rent you a movie.
* Watching TV in bed may enhance your couch potato experience.
!! Warnings !!
* Sitting for too long can lead to a sore backside, and all the
snacks could make you fat.
* Get up for something serious, like a fire. You don't want to lose
your life just because you're a couch potato, do you?
* A sedentary lifestyle is an unhealthy one; this article is
advocating being a couch potato for infrequent relaxing chillouts,
not as a permanent habit.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* A couch
* A TV
* A remote
* A cable or satellite service
* Snacks, and some
* Movies, DVDs
* Drinks
* Video games and player
* Magazines, comics, novels, whatever tickles your fancy
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Goof off at Work
* How to Be Lazy Around the House
* How to Stop Being Lazy and Work Hard
* How to Exercise While Watching TV
* How to Prepare a Relaxing Bath
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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