Brain Fun During TV Commercials
by chefkeem
Watching TV commercials is no fun for the brain. Don't waste your time. Here are some ideas for creative and productive things to do instead.
Really, why would anyone want to watch TV commercials?
They are boring, redundant, annoying, and disruptive!
TV commercials always come on when we have the most fun with the program. Whether it is right before the pivotal point of a contest show, or at the most suspense-laden moment in a crime drama - you can count on getting ripped out of your mood with some irrelevant nonsense. The worst part? Commercial time is in the meanwhile much longer than the actual show time. But we don't have to be victims of this greedy scheme. We can do something about it.
In the following sections of this article, I will suggest a few creative activities for those otherwise wasted minutes after the announcement, "We'll be right back...after this!" (We might not.)
For the next commercial break...
have pen and paper ready
This time, we carefully watch the commercials, and we jot down some of the strange, stupid, funny, or quirky stuff we notice about them. For example...
- Cosmetic products are presented by people who don't need them - for people who'll never look like the models anyway.
- Allstate's roadside assistance - you never pay a dime unless you use it. Huh? What's so darn special about that?
- Why are sandwiches always assembled in slow-motion with feathery bread slices spraying crumbs in the air?
- During those mock interview scenes, why do people look at an invisible, mute interviewer instead of straight at the camera? Proof of authenticity? Come on...
- Are women really pleasantly surprised and cheerful, when they come home from work, and somebody has turned their living room into a computer store?
- Ever seen this mission statement? "We believe...together we can make the world a better place, one pet at a time." (Pets are not what's wrong with this world. Some marketers are.)
- If I would switch from State Farm to Geico to Nationwide to Progressive, I'd eventually get paid to have car insurance.
By looking at commercials in such an irreverent way, you rob them of their hypnotic power of
suggestion. You'll free your mind from fear of depression, financial ruin, and mental incontinence.
Re-train your brain
5 minutes at a time
If you have a computer handy, check out the following links to free brain games online. You might as well test your brain age first. It's fun and a good warm-up exercise for things to come.
- Brain Training 101
- Memory Improvement Tips
- Top 11 Free Brain Games
 I'm thinking. (It hurts.) |
Who needs an iPad if you can read a book
Considering the ultra-low "used" prices, it's a no-brainer!
 |  |  |
| The Big Book of Brain Games: 1,000 Pl... Workman Publishing Company | Brain Training: Boost memory, maximiz... DK ADULT | Brainfit: 10 Minutes a Day for a Shar... Thomas Nelson |
More fun for our brains, bodies and spirits
while the pitch man roars...
- Jot down ideas for your new blog post or Wizzley article
- Start a painting and add to it during every commercial break
- Have a quick trivia quiz with your companion(s)
- Call your mom and tell her you love her
- Do an exercise routine
- Kiss your wife/hub like you mean it
- Turn the damn thing off
Puzzles are better than jingles
and doing is better than watching, right?
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What are YOUR favorite brain games during commercial breaks?
chefkeem, Thank you for the alternatives and the products. Perhaps a commercial is a good time to work on perfecting your dancing and singing routines so the hat, shirt, shoes and shorts need to be included in the product line. In particular, I like your saying that "Pets are not what's wrong with this world. Some marketers are."
My cognitive therapist will love this, thanks for helping me out on my homework, I condition my brain all the time. My injury has been a blessing in many ways, I now believe in the need to work the brain throughout my entire life, brain health is a must we all need to embrace. Great Wizz
I usually do a bit of housework - for example, go wash the dishes or at least some of them.
I try not to waste time in life - and watching commercials is a big waste of time - so during commercials I usually do some stretching and breathing exercises. I sometimes do some soduko or just talk with my son. I honestly don't watch much tv.
What fun ideas....I have to say that the commercial in the list that gets me the most is the woman coming home to a computer store as a home makeover...huh? Looking for the humor in them is a great idea...the other is tape and fast-forward:-)
I agree we must keep the brain busy to avoid commercial spot atrophy. I like to mute the TV sound and crank up the stereo when the commercial spots intrude on the programming. I often watch news programs and sports with sound off and caption vision on. Sometimes the caption errors are quite amusing ... Multi-tasking like this is just a way to fight the adverts ... works for me!
I don't watch a lot of tv, but I love puzzle games.
Loved this! Yeah..I'm puzzled by those commercials turning the home into a computer store. Was this suppose to be funny, interesting, something else? Commercials are typically my time to do proof-reading, let the dogs out, let the dogs in, let them out again...you get the picture. It's hard to sit still for long over here. Does this count as an exercise routine as you suggested? lol
Lots of fun ideas for what to do in commercial down time! Thanks Chef!
I usually buzz through the commercials, as I only have time to watch recorded TV. So no issues with that. But I do watch all the Superbowl commercials to see which commercials I won't ever watch again. lol.