20 Ways To Be Productive While Watching TV

Did you know that you can actually be productive while watching TV? Although relaxing is necessary for your well-being, being productive with your time is essential for your career, goals, and dreams. Your favorite TV shows will always be there for you to binge on. However, time will not. So, it’s important to use your time wisely as much as you can. Even though I have never really been a fan of sitting countless of hours in front of a Television screen binge watching shows, I do enjoy watching my favorite tv shows and movies from time to time. But, I like to optimize my time by multi-tasking! So, whether you want to spend 30 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, or more enjoying your favorite TV show, below I’m sharing 20 ways to be productive while watching TV!
📌 SAVE THESE 20 WAYS TO BE PRODUCTIVE WHILE WATCHING TV FOR LATER!

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HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE WHILE WATCHING TV
I don’t know if it’s because I always assign myself a million tasks at a time, but 24 hours never seems to be enough. I always seem to have something to do. So, while I do give myself the permission to watch television without doing anything else when I just want to relax, I absolutely enjoy multi-tasking and being productive while watching television! Watching your favorite show while tackling your to-do list? A major win! I do want to reinforce that I don’t believe watching TV is bad. I’m all for self-care and resting. However, I am against wasting hours and hours of your time on something that won’t contribute to your personal growth or goals. If you want to binge-watch your favorite TV shows, go for it. However, I will suggest optimizing this time, even if by a little.
So, if you’re ready to be more productive, crush your goals, tackle your to-do list, and practice self-care while watching TV, this list is for you!
Productive ideas for everyone
I have categorized all 20 ideas into 6 major categories:
- Creativity
- Planning
- Prepping
- Organizing
- Self-Care
- Blogging
20 Ways To Be Productive While Watching TV
CREATIVE THINGS TO DO WHILE WATCHING TV
First up, The Creativity Category! This category is not just for artists or aspiring artists. This category was designed for anyone who is creative and simply likes to create. So, if you’re interested in creating, here are five fun ways you can be creative while watching TV!
1. DRAW AWAY
If you’re into drawing, this is one of the easiest things you can do while watching TV! You don’t even need a lot of art supplies to draw. Just grab a pencil, an eraser, and a sketchbook (or a piece of paper!) and you’re good to go. Whether it’s been at home, in school, on trips, or even in church (when I was younger hehe), I have always enjoyed drawing! Drawing has helped me survive many moments of boredom while releasing my creativity on to paper. So, this is a hobby that I completely stand by!
Since I don’t have much time to draw nowadays, I only draw when I’m watching TV!
2. CREATE MAGICAL PAINTINGS
For those of you who like to express yourself through the form of art, use this time to create paintings. I know painting can get a little messy. Oh, who am I kidding? It can get very messy. But, it’s so worth it in the end. Painting is one of the greatest ways to dump your creativity and express your thoughts (without having to use words) on to canvas. And the best part of all, you don’t really have to know how to paint in order to paint. If you’re skilled, go ahead and create yourself a masterpiece. And if you are a newbie, simply let your creativity guide your hands around the canvas and I’m sure you will create something absolutely magical! So, if you’re in the mood to get more artsy, why not paint while watching TV?
3. SCULPT
Although I’m not really good at sculpting, I can testify that sculpting does bring you a lot of happiness. It’s always so fun to watch my sister play around with clay and create beautiful sculptures. If you’re into sculpting, you can use this time to create a beautiful sculpture.
You can create:
- All kinds of decorations for your home
- Gifts for others
- Figures
- Objects to collect
Here’s a photo of football jerseys and a minion my sister created:

4. KNIT A GIFT
If you’re feeling a tad adventurous, you can knit someone (that someone can be a friend, a loved one, or yourself) a cozy scarf, a pair of fuzzy gloves, a warm hat, or even a cute headband. And if someone you know is having a baby, you can knit baby clothes for them! There are so many great tutorials on YouTube to take you through the whole process, too!

5. TRY DIYS
Do you recall all of those DIYs you watched and bookmarked on YouTube, but never went back to? Or how about those DIYs you pinned on Pinterest a few weeks ago? Well, now is the perfect time to go back to them and actually try them out and do-it-yourself. So, if you’re going to binge watch a show, take this time to catch up on those bookmarked and pinned DIYS. Make a list of the DIYs you want to try and the supplies you’ll need, go shopping for your supplies, and DIY away the next time you binge watch TV.
DIYS TO TRY:
THINGS TO PLAN WHILE WATCHING TV
The Planning Category! All of the things in this category can be done once a week or once a month. So, here are some ideas of what you can plan while watching TV.
6. PLAN WORKOUTS
At the end of every month, you can plan out your workouts for the following month. If you like to follow workouts on YouTube, you can go through fitness channels, choose 20-25 workouts that you like, save them to a playlist, and later use my workout planner to plan which workout you want to follow every day.
Another way you can plan out your workouts is by choosing the muscles you want to train everyday.
For example, if you want to work on your glutes Mondays and Wednesdays, you will write “GLUTES” in all of Monday and Wednesday boxes. Planning your workouts will help you prepare for them mentally & physically.
7. PLAN MEALS
Planning your meals will not only help you save your time and money, but it will also save you from undesired and unwanted calories. This is a great way to track what you eat, how many calories you’re having daily, and how much money you spend. So, if you want to try meal planning, get yourself a journal, go through recipes online, choose the meals you will prepare during the week, and create a grocery shopping list! The best thing is that you can plan a whole week worth of meals in just ONE siting (:
8. PLAN ACTIVITIES
Open up your planner and start filling it in. You can schedule appointments, gatherings, events, work-related tasks, school-related tasks, blog posts, social media posts, etc. Planning ahead will help you stay organized, on track, and ahead of the game.
THINGS YOU CAN PREP WHILE WATCHING TV
The Prepping Category – it’s time to prep prep prep. Here are two things you can prep while watching TV.
9. MEAL PREP FOR THE WEEK
If you want to save time cooking everyday of the week, try meal prepping. Whenever I meal prep, it’s on a Sunday or Monday, but you can do this any day you’d like! Meal prepping does take around 3-4 hours. However, I rather spend 4 hours cooking for the entire while watching TV than spend 1-2 hours cooking every day of the week!
10. SNACK PREP
You can also prepare your fruits, vegetables, and nuts for the week!
Fruits & Veggies:
Gather fruits and veggies from your fridge, wash them, cut them up, place them in containers or ziploc bags, and store them in your fridge!
Nuts, cereals, cookies, etc:
Prepare these snacks by separating them in ziploc bags to save you some time during the week!
If you’re looking for tasty snack ideas, check out this post: 10 healthy on the go snack ideas for busy days.
THINGS YOU CAN ORGANIZE WHILE WATCHING TV
The Organizing Category. Yes you can get organized while watching TV. If you don’t know how, let me give you some ideas! (:
11. FOLD LAUNDRY
“Be productive – Don’t fold laundry unless you’re watching Television” -My mom
This is so true. Why waste time during the day to fold laundry when you can get something else done (something that you CAN’T do while watching TV)? Everyone watches at least 30 minutes of TV a day, so why not use the time that you’re going to watch TV to catch up on your laundry. Work smarter, not harder 🙂
12. ORGANIZE DRAWERS
I’m obsessed with Marie Kondo’s folding method. I’ve always loved folding my clothes the “regular way”, but I never knew that the KonMari folding method would be so addicting. This method has helped me keep my drawers so organized and fun to look at. So, if you’re in the mood of organizing your drawers, definitely look up Marie Kondo’s folding method and try it out.
13. ORGANIZE MAKEUP
Do you hate organizing make up too? This includes putting everything where it belongs, cleaning crushes, getting rid of dried up/old makeup, and organizing your vanity! Ugh, this is one of my least favorite tasks, but it’s so important to do! Since there never seems to be time to clean/organize makeup, do this while watching your favorite TV show!
MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO BE PRODUCTIVE WHILE WATCHING TV…..
SELF-CARE ACTIVITIES TO DO WHILE WATCHING TV
The Self-Care Category. Did you know that you can practice self-care while watching TV? Yep. Here are some fun self-care ideas:
Some self-care posts you might find helpful:
- The Self-Care Menu: 105 Self-Care Ideas
- 50 Simple Self-Care Ideas For Hard Days
- 30 Day Self-Care Challenge For Women
- The New Self-Care Is Self-Sustainability
- 50 Winter Self-Care Ideas For Cozy Days
14. PAINT YOUR NAILS
The next time you’re watching a show, choose your favorite nail polish, paint your nails, and let them dry while you watch your show. I personally like painting my nails every Sunday to start the week off with freshly painted nails.
15. JOURNAL
If you watch TV during the night time, then journal about your day.
Write down:
- What you have accomplished.
- What happened during the day.
- The ups and downs.
- Your goals for the next day.
- Something you’re grateful for.
If you watch TV first thing in the morning, then write down:
- Your plans for the day.
- Goals for the day.
- Affirmations in your journal.
RELATED JOURNALING POSTS:
- 100 Journal Prompts | Favorite Things In Life.
- 100 Self-Discovery Prompts For A New You.
- 25 Insightful Journal Prompts For Bloggers.
- Easy 30 Day Journaling Challenge For Beginners.
16. FACE MASK TIME
You can either buy face masks or create them yourself! If you prefer to make your own face masks, then look for good mask ideas online. There are hundreds of effective and easy masks you can make. And once you created your face mask, turn on your TV, put on your face mask and simply relax until it’s time to remove your face mask!
17. GET A WORKOUT IN
Aha! There are NO more excuses to not exercise. If you don’t have any time during the day to get a workout in, guess what? Now you do! You can exercise and even walk while watching TV.
There are many effective at home workouts you can easily do.
RELATED POSTS:
- At Home Workout Plan Basics For Beginners.
- 100 Bodyweight Exercises To Do At Home.
- 7 Minute Booty Workout To Do At Home.
- 10 Minute Plank Workout – Living Room Friendly.
- Watch TV, Spell Your Name, And Workout.
BLOGGING TASKS TO DO WHILE WATCHING TV
The Blogging Category! This category is exclusively for my fellow bloggers. Here are some ways you can work on your blog while still watching TV.
18. CREATE CONTENT
Who says you can’t come up with some content while watching TV?
You can definitely brainstorm some ideas, build up your posts, create post images, photograph or stock up on photos, compress and edit photos for your posts, add ADS to your post, and create a template of your post all while watching TV. If you get all of this work out of your way, the next time you sit down in your office to work on your posts, all you’ll have to worry about is the writing portion of your posts.
19. PROMOTE YOUR WORK
Because we can not let our hard work go unnoticed, we have to take some time out of our day to promote our work on social media! This is the perfect time to build your social media accounts, promote blog posts on your socials, participate in blogging threads on Twitter and Facebook, create pins for Pinterest, and post on Instagram!
20. ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
In order to build a strong and long-lasting relationship with your audience, it is important to engage with them. Use this time to reply back to your comments on social media and blog posts.
More Posts You May Like:
- Fun And Effective Social Media Detox Challenge.
- 25 Things To Do When You’re Bored | Blogger Edition.
- 30 Fun Things To Do At Home To Avoid Boredom.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Did you like these 20 ways to be productive while watching TV? What is you favorite way to be productive while watching TV? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time,
Gabby Abigail
Let’s Stay Connected On Social Media!
Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | TikTok | Facebook |

Great post with fun ideas. I crochet while I watch TV or sometimes I plan my next circuit projects and then cut during a break. Weeding is awesome to do while watching TV.
https://secretsoftheship.com
That sounds lovely! My mom and sister always crochet while watching TV, so I’m glad to hear that more people do so as well. Thanks for reading.
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Gabby
OMG… I think I do atleast 90% of things you mentioned above while watching tv… yesterday I made two photo reflectors…and the one other thing that I do most is pinning on Pinterest…😊
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PS – I love love your art…you should share it more often. 😊💕
Aw yay! I’m happy to hear that. Yes, pinning on Pinterest is something I recently started doing and it’s honestly another great thing to do while watching TV – I LOVE IT (: Thank you so much. I will definitely be adding more art to my blog soon.XO
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Gabby
I’m always doing something while watching tv. Pin on pinterest, write a blogpost, create a new item for my Zazzle-onlinestore, read and like posts on social media platforms. I think many creative people do this. Have a nice day, Karin
I find it difficult, having ADHD, to multitask if I am watching TV and want to focus on the storyline. But sometimes, I do some blog promotion as I’m watching TV. I like to do small tasks that don’t take the attention of TV completely. Love this post x
Melanie || melaniewithanie
Absolutely, honey. It’s always important to do what works best for YOU. Blog promotion is very fun and do-able while watching TV, so there ya go (:
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Gabby
Thank you SO much for this! I also hate sitting down watching TV for hours, 1-3 episodes is enough for me. I do some of these already, but thank you for sharing some ones I hadn’t yet thought of.
Nellé x
so glad we can relate! (: Thanks so much for stopping by.
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Gabby
I love your tips for being productive while watching tv. I’ve actually done house cleaning in a specific room with the tv on and before you know it, it felt like I got done cleaning a lot faster than normal.
Ah, yes! house cleaning is a good one, too. Thanks for your input and comment! xo
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Gabby
Omg girl, I swear the more of your posts I read, the more similar I realize we are hahaha. Knitting is the only thing on this list that I’ve never done while TV (technically YouTube) has been on in the background… I’ve been itching to learn how to quilt though because I want to turn all my old concert & trip Tee-Shirts into a quilt!
Multitasking is such an important skill – especially for bloggers, since its rare to have time to solely focus on blogging. Thanks for sharing!
Aw, haha! (: so glad to have found someone in the blogging world that can relate this much with me! ooh, if you do learn how to quilt, I want to hear all about it, girl. Thank YOU for reading.
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Gabby
These are great ideas! I plan my blogging schedule while watching tv! Thank you for sharing!
thank you! glad to hear it (:
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Gabby
Nice post! Also, great list! The two on your list that I incorporate into my TV viewing are exercising (stationary bike) and folding clothes! I also do a lot of social media work on my phone, but I’m actually trying to cut that out while watching TV because I think one screen at a time should be enough stimulation. 🙂
Thank you for sharing.
Roger
thank you! ooh, I think I need to get myself a stationary bike. It’s so convenient to be able to exercise while having your favorite show on. Talk about a win-win situation. Completely understand your last point!
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Gabby
I absolutely love meal planning when I’m watching TV! My husband hates it, mainly because he is trying to watch something but I love it!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
meal planning is the best! saves you so much time and money! x
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Gabby
Love how you have broken down the ideas to 6 major categories! Never again will I waste time while watching TV LOL Going to try out these and might even make them into new habits.
Self-Care and planning is where Im going to start and then work from there. Thank you for sharing!
Aw, thank you! Haha, I’m glad to hear it, girl.
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Gabby
I do paint when Im watching TV, but to exercise is what I need to do. Like you said no excuses.
oooh, painting is one of my favorite things to do! Yes, good luck! (:
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Gabby
This is a good post !! I straightened my hair while watching tv lastnight 😂😂😂 that is such a chore! I hate doing my hair lol. Happy Friday boo!
http://www.jessierenea.com
I can certainly fold laundry while I watch TV, I also might stretch every now and again. But things like writing and reading need my full attention!
Rachel || http://anotherstationanothermile.com
Haha, I love your mom’s saying of never fold laundry unless you’re watching TV. I didn’t even know someone people didn’t do that. 😂 Your drawing & painting are so good. Love your sister’s work, too!
yes, she loves multitasking! folding the laundry during the day to her is a waste of time, haha! thank you so much, girl.
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Gabby
Love this! I’m very guilty of tuning out and binge watching netflix for hours. I try to get blog work done though, so many good ideas here 🙂
Thank you! I’m glad you found this helpful.
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Gabby
Great post
Thank you for reading!
Awesome post! I love that so much of it focuses on organizing and planning, and the article itself seems so well organized! I’m a huge proponent of doing productive tasks that aren’t too demanding, while doing something relaxing like watching TV. You’ve definitely given me some fun new ideas I can try fitting into that time 🙂
Thank you so much! I tried my best to include ideas for all kinds of preferences, so I am happy you found ideas you liked.
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Gabby
Haha I LOVE your mum’s productivity recommendation – definitely need to start doing that, our laundry to put away pile is BIG! I like to use TV time to plan out future content and start drafting new blog posts. 🙂
Hayley | happilyeverhomebody.com
Haha, right? That’s awesome, girl. I like creating pins while watching TV – should add it to this list lol!
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Gabby
[…] 20 Ways To Be Productive While Watching TV. […]
I love putting a face mask on while watching tv! it’s so relaxing tbh!
It really is, isn’t it?