In this solo episode of the Stand Sure Podcast, host and coach Rob Anderson reflects on his recent divorce after a 24‑year relationship and identifies a key factor that contributed to its decline: mismatched activity levels and the way each partner spent downtime. He argues that passive TV consumption erodes mental, emotional, and relational health, while reading or listening to audiobooks is an active habit that sharpens cognition, expands perspective, and supports physical movement. Rob explains how modern technology (Kindle, Audible) makes vast libraries instantly accessible, and he shares three concrete habit‑building hacks to replace TV time: (1) pair reading/audiobook time with an existing daily ritual, (2) create a no‑TV zone for a set period each day, and (3) choose books that genuinely excite you. He also discloses his own Audible subscription, his reading volume (4‑5 books per month), and the health benefits of swapping screen time for books, such as reduced stress, better sleep, and increased mindfulness. The episode concludes with a call‑to‑action inviting listeners to share their current reads, visit his website, and support the podcast via Patreon for deeper coaching content.
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Hey, welcome to the Stand Sure Podcast. I'm Rob Anderson. I'm your host. I'm also, I'm also a coach and I enjoy helping people improve their lives, improve their business. I want to be that partner that's right there alongside of them. And today I'm going to ruffle some feathers because we're going to talk about something that's simple, but it's powerful. And it's the way that we spend some of our downtime. I'm going to take you back in a little bit of a history lesson on myself here. So, I have remarried recently, but I was coming out of a 24-year relationship. And I have to tell you, for a lot of years, that relationship was amazing. And then the last— like a lot of relationships, the last, you know, the last part of that, there were things that led up from one thing to another to another to another to where you finally hit a point. It's like— There has to be a change. And I think for both parties, we both agreed that there had to be some changes. But I got to thinking about what was it that really led up to the demise. And even though I have done before, and I will do another podcast on keeping relationships in sync, I got to tell you, When one partner is all about getting out and getting going and doing things and adventuring, and the other one is sedentary, that relationship is going to hit a demise. Now, by the way, this podcast is not— I'm not going to be bashing my ex-spouse. There was a lot of great things about our relationship. And then there's things that were problematic. I can tell you this though, when neither of us were in a sedentary lifestyle, we blossomed. When we're out hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, or just even just riding around town, nothing extreme, right? Just being together. But also the way that we spent our alone time. And what I want to talk about today is the way we spend that downtime, and more specifically, how doing something like swapping a lot of that TV time for books, even if it's audiobooks, can actually change the way you think, the way you move, The way you live, the way that you relate to others. Most of us default to turning into the TV at the end of the day or maybe in the morning because it's easy, it's familiar, it doesn't take much effort. But here's the catch: TV is almost always passive. You sit around, you absorb, you get fed information, you get fed entertainment and quick flashes. And while that's fine in moderation, it can also keep us locked into routines that really don't serve us long-term. Doesn't serve our relationships, doesn't serve us as individuals. We don't grow. On the other hand, reading Or listening to books through outlets like Audible. You know, and at this point in history right now, we have more access to information than ever before. Easy access. I can literally put 400 books onto my Kindle and have something to read. Now, honestly, I keep about 100 on there. But I can do the same thing with audiobooks. I've got them, I've got them on the go. I listen to them on the way into work. I listen to them at night. It's my way to relax when I'm getting things done. If I'm cleaning up the garage or packing up scuba gear or whatever it is, I've got those audiobooks that can be playing and I'm feeding my mind. Listening to books or reading, it's active and it asks your brain to engage, to imagine, to connect the dots. And that's why being well-read shows up in confidence. It shows up in better communication and broader perspectives. You're building more than entertainment. You're shaping the way that your mind works. And by the way, it's kind of scary when I see kids being totally entertained with an iPad or with a cell phone because they're starting to learn those habits of quick sound bites and quick flashes and everything else. And you know, you might be thinking right now, I don't, I don't have time to sit down with a book. And honestly, that's where audiobooks come in. They've opened the door for so many people to dive into literature, even when they're on the go. Whether you're commuting, if you're working out, folding laundry, you could be absorbed into that, both the activity as well as the book. And by doing that, you're absorbing new ideas, new stories, new perspectives. Instead of having to carve out an extra hour to sit down and read, which by the way, I fully endorse, you just integrate learning and growth into the flow of your day. And that's the kind of habit that— That habit shift It compounds over time. So, you know, when we take TV and books, as well as audiobooks, and we do a comparison side by side, TV is passive, it's sedentary, short bursts of content. It often just skims the surface. People who tend to watch a lot of TV, their IQ scores will drop. Their emotional intelligence scores will drop. Books and audiobooks, they're active, they're flexible, they're immersive. They demand your attention, but they also give back by sharpening your focus, helping you grow your vocabulary, as well as expand your perspective. I can always tell someone who's well-read. My brother-in-law, very well-read. You can tell by it, by his conversation, the way he communicates with others, by the topics that he talks about. Hey, by the way, there's something else. TV tends to lock you into a chair. With audiobooks, you can move, you can take a walk, stretch, or just stay active while you quote-unquote read. That's good for your physical health as much as your mental health. With books, one of the things I've always enjoyed doing with a book, you know, with a TV, you're stuck with where the TV is. And then we put TVs in different rooms so we can be in a different setting. With books, man, you can take them anywhere. They're portable. Your living room, a park. A cafe. It gets you out and going. So let's talk about some life hacks to help build the habit of breaking away from TV and really getting your, your brain working again. By the way, there are huge health benefits to it. So let's be practical. Here's 3 simple hacks to help you start making this shift. Number 1, pair it with a ritual. Pick something that you already do every day, like having your morning coffee or winding down with tea at night. Instead of scrolling your phone, which by the way, I have a bad habit of doing, but instead of scrolling on your phone or turning on the TV, Make that your book time. 10 or 15 minutes is enough just to get started. 10 minutes, just get started with 10 minutes, and you're gonna be surprised how quickly it adds up. If you do 10 minutes a night for a week, that's a little over an hour of reading. Number 2, create a no-TV zone. Set up a small boundary for yourself. Just draw it out. Put it in a calendar. For example, first hour when you wake up, first hour when you get home, no TV. Instead, use that window for an audiobook. Use it while you cook breakfast or make dinner. Do it when you're knocking out household chores, mowing the lawn. It doesn't have to be drastic. It's just one intentional shift that can make the difference. 21 days is about what it takes to make a habit. 30 days is what it takes to reinforce it. Then after that, it's just maintenance, right? So you don't lose it. Hack number 3, choose books that truly excite you, whether that's about health and fitness, If it's about, you know, if it's a fantasy story, if it is history, whatever it is. Because sometimes the biggest mistake people make is picking a book that they feel that they should read instead of one that they want to read. And the secret is starting with something that you just can't put down. Once you get hooked, swapping TV time for book time, it's not going to feel like a chore. It feels more like a reward. I actually reward myself with audiobooks. I'll set goals for myself. By the way, full disclosure, I do have a subscription to Audible. I get 2 credits a month. But I usually buy a few more books. I'm usually downloading and going through 4 or 5 books a month. But I reward myself. And let's not forget about the health side. Sitting for hours in front of a screen can make you feel sluggish, can actually lead to depression. But if you're listening to an audiobook, While you walk, while you stretch, while you do chores, you're moving your body as you're feeding your mind at the same time. And it's a 2-for-1 deal. And mentally, the shift is powerful. Books ask you to slow down, to focus, and to absorb. They can reduce stress. They improve sleep and even make you more mindful. And that is something that constant screen time actually works against. So here's the big takeaway: replacing even a small slice of your TV time with reading or audiobooks can reshape your day, reshape your mind. You're going to feel sharper, more energized, and more intentional about the way that you spend your time. And it's not about cutting out TV completely. It's about balance. It's about trading a little bit of passive consumption for active growth. Hey, by the way, if you've been looking for a simple way to build healthier habits, better physical, mental, and emotional habits, I want to be along your side. And partner with you as you're doing that. Thanks so much for joining today. I'd love to hear from you. Love to hear what book you're starting for the week or what audiobook that you'll be plugging into. Thank you so much. Make sure that you check out the website, www.stansher.com. Also, you can. You can fully support this webcast— podcast. You can fully support this podcast if you go out to Patreon. For $7 a month, you get a lot deeper information. You get daily motivation sent straight to your mailbox. And again, I would love to partner with you as a coach. Just reach out. Until then, have a blessed day. Bye.
