Lately, TV has been given a bad rap. ?There's too much violence!? says one person, another screams, ?Shows now-a-days have such an overtly sexual themes! It's disgusting!? Okay, so maybe some TV shows now are really bad and kids shouldn't watch them. I'm sure even you don't watch a couple because you don't like the nature of the show!

But does that mean all TV shows are bad? There has to be something good on TV on those 1,000+ channels, right? Sure! Of course there is! You just have to dig out the clicker from in between the couch cushions and start changing channels. This brings me to my main point: 3 important reasons you should be watching TV for personal development.

I'll keep this post short and snappy so you can get back to watching your regularly scheduled program.

1. TV watching can allow you to learn new skills!

Engrained in everybody's mind is Richard Simmon's ?Sweatin? to the Oldies? - something I have never watched and never want to watch. However, that tape makes a good point: not all TV shows are bad! There's a whole Food network devoted to food, with a plethora of cooking shows that can teach you how to make delicious meals. And have you ever looked to see how many exercise tapes and DVDs are out there? You have no excuse not to be watching TV to learn new information.

2. You can take a virtual journey to anywhere in the world, from your couch.

The Travel Channel, anyone? They have some awesome shows about various places around the world - perfect if you don't want to cough up the money to go see those exotic places in person! Hate going to the zoo? Animal Planet is the channel for you. On some of their shows, you can actually see the animals interacting in their own habitat, instead in some dinky little cage with 30 onlookers staring them down. How cool!

3. Don't like learning new info? Then use TV to relax!

Everybody needs time to wind down, every single day; otherwise, people would end up being high strung, nervous wrecks. TV can let you wind down perfectly. Find a movie you like, sit on your chair with a bowl of popcorn, and vegetate for an hour or two. When the time's up, you'll be relaxed, refreshed, and feeling like you're going to burst from too much popcorn.

So what are you waiting for? Stop reading this and go watch some educational TV!