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Last week, I had a debate with a student about whether TV viewing is a mindful activity. At first, I didn’t treat the subject seriously. It seemed obvious to me that TV is a mindless pursuit, but as the discussion progressed, I realized I was oversimplifying. I’ve come to believe this is a topic worth exploring – so let’s…
Television, movies, video games and other screen-based pursuits are designed to capture your attention. A good movie, for example, creates empathy with the characters to the extent that you identify with their emotional responses and get pulled into the story. When you’re engaged like this, are you being mindful? After all, mindfulness is a form of focused attention.
The answer is, you may be fully attending to the movie BUT you’re not being mindful of your own reactions to the movie. So, no you’re not practicing mindfulness.

This Week's Peaceful Moment: Pronghorn Antelope, Brooks, Alberta

This begs the next question, “Can you be mindful of a screen-based pursuit?” The answer is yes, although doing so may decrease the degree of pleasure you get from watching a movie or playing a game.
Let’s stick with the movie example. As you watch, you can make a point of remaining aware of both the movie and your reactions to it. Reactions might include thoughts, opinions, and judgments about the storyline, the characters, the set, the directing, the acting, the special effects, etc.
Reactions also include your body’s physical responses to what you’re seeing and hearing, which may be a direct result of the movie (e.g., you tear up at a sad scene) or a reaction to the thoughts and opinions you have about the movie (e.g., you get upset with a character’s political beliefs). Whenever you notice yourself judging the movie in some way, observe how the thoughts feel in your body.
As with any mindfulness exercise, don’t try to change your reactions or judge them. Just notice them and accept them for what they are. It’s always helpful to turn inward to notice bodily sensations, because emotions are felt in the body first, and because being present with the body keeps you in the present moment.
The value of this exercise
There’s benefit to trying this, maybe even trying it with various different screen pursuits. Often, we use these activities for relaxation, but are they truly relaxing? How relaxed is your body when you’re watching a dramatic TV program? Be mindful and find out.
Mindful screen time can teach you a lot about how you’re affected by the media you’re consuming. 
A couple of years ago, I visited my doctor for my yearly physical exam. The first thing he did was test my blood pressure. It was sky-high! Since this was a new problem for me, the doctor asked me to purchase a blood pressure monitor and use it at home for a week. All my home readings showed slightly low blood pressure.
In pondering what had happened, I remembered that I’d been playing video games for more than an hour just prior to heading to the physical. I wondered if somehow the gaming influenced my blood pressure. I did a few tests and, sure enough, gaming boosts my blood pressure!
That little test persuaded me to also pay attention to how my body felt during gaming. A little mindfulness uncovered that playing games typically causes mild agitation, restlessness, and tension in my shoulders and neck.
Have you ever watched a movie that inspired nightmares, or caused you to be hyper-sensitive to noises in the night? These effects of watching a scary movie are pretty noticeable,