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The Secret of My Success

July 25, 2013 @ 22:05 By Gavin Webber 17 Comments

I often get asked by readers, how I find the spare time to blog, podcast, make videos, garden, and be a more sustainable person.

Usually I don’t give it a second thought because I love my lifestyle and wouldn’t have it any other way, however I do have a big secret that I am willing to share.  Yes, a secret.

What would you say if I told you that this secret can give you back over 720 hours a year?  That’s nearly fourteen hours a week, or just over two hours a day.  Every single day.

What would it feel like to suddenly find 30 days of spare time per year?  Time that you could build a more sustainable lifestyle, and spend with family and friends.  Quality time to do the things that matter.

Wouldn’t that be simply amazing?

Well folks, it is.  Here is my little secret that changed my productivity.

I stopped watching television.  Yes, it is as simple as that!

On average, Australians watch between 2 and 4 hours of television a day.  A 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics study found that;

“TV watching/listening was found to be the activity which took up most people’s leisure time. On a daily basis 87% of Australians watched or listened to TV for an average of just under 3 hours (179 minutes)”

I realise the the readership of this blog is probably in the 13% that don’t watch that much telly, but those stats just blow my mind.  It may have changed a little since the survey, but not by much I reckon.
Personally, I have so much free time to do all the things that I do.  
And so can you!  All you have to do is pry yourself off of the couch or sofa, walk over to the screen and turn it off.  It is as simple as that.
So that is what I did. 
Don’t get me wrong, we still have a screen so I can watch eco documentaries, and the odd entertaining movie (and Star Trek or Dr Who), but that is it.  It also runs on minimal electricity for the short time we use it.
 Kim does watch the odd show, but she tells me that is just to make sure that it is still crappy as ever!  A kind of a regular reality check for her.

So I watch no commercial television, ever.  It makes my skin crawl with its advertisements and product placement, trying to suck people into buying rubbish they just don’t need, with money they don’t have, to impress people they don’t really like.
Wendy Brown  recently discussed television advertising in her post “Five Easy Ways to Save Money“;

“So, how does this save the average person money? Well, in a lot of ways. First, television commercials are designed to make us want. They appeal to our emotions in ways that are hard to ignore, making us feel like we are inadequate of we don’t have A, B or C product, or that we are depriving our children the key to their eternal happiness, or whatever the emotion the commercials evoke. Make no mistake, advertisers are professionals in psychological manipulation. It’s their job to get you to want whatever it is they’re selling, and they are completely unscrupulous in the actions they will take to make you believe that what they have is what you need.”

Ne’er a wiser word said about television advertising.

So how have you rid yourself of television and become more productive?  I am sure I am not the only one holding the reins of this secret.  I would love to hear your story via comment.

-37.6777778144.5686375

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Filed Under: Television

Burning The Candle…

January 31, 2013 @ 21:43 By Gavin Webber 8 Comments

This lifestyle that I have chosen is not an idle one, which is not a complaint by the way.  It just is the way it is, and I love it.

So what have I been doing, and how do I manage to cram it all into a 24 hour day?

Well my day job takes up a vast majority of the day (2 hours of commuting, 9 hours in the office), so keep that in mind while I list the things I have done so far this week.  By the way, it hasn’t really been a busy one, so maybe I will do this exercise once a month.

  • Saturday – Fed chooks, Made cream cheese, Gardening, Archery Lesson, Cooked dinner for family (veggie curry).
  • Sunday – Fed chooks, Remedial gym session, Rest, research for cheese making book, finish off making cream cheese, Finalised six monthly workshop schedule for Melton Sustainable Living Group with Kim, then wrote and published Blog post.
  • Monday (public holiday) – Fed chooks, Garden maintenance, cleaned out chicken houses, wrote two blog posts and scheduled one on the Little Green Cheese blog, researched soft cheese.
  • Tuesday – Fed chooks, Commute, Work, wrote introduction chapter for cheese making eBook, eBook marketing, researching ideas for future podcasts.
  • Wednesday – Fed chooks, Commute, Work, research for cheese eBook  finished off book 1 of The Rangers Apprentice (thanks Dawn for the recommendation), formatted cheese eBook draft manuscript and added all cheese recipes, harvested dinner with Kim. 
  • Thursday – Fed chooks, Commute, Work, bought some more bird netting for Tomatoes, Committee meeting for Melton Sustainable Living Group, this blog post, start recording new podcast intro.

In amongst all these things listed above, I am constantly looking for new ideas for blog posts, thinking about our rapidly changing climate and resource depletion, and attempting to understand what things may be like in the future (but I don’t let it get me down), when these things hit our society in the face.

Also, as you can see, there is no mention of watching TV in there, because there is no room for it in my busy schedule.  In fact, it is because of the fact that I don’t watch TV that I have the time to do all of these things.  Life just seems a lot fuller, so much more satisfying, and without boredom.

So next time someone asks me how do I manage to fit in all the stuff that I do, I will just point them to this post!  I know from experience that you get so much more of your life back without the idiot box in it!

Are you beginning to get more things done by weaning yourself from TV time?

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Filed Under: Media, Sustainable Living, Television

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About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

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