Is "Finding Time to Stream" Still a Thing?

I recently stumbled upon a blog post I wrote a few years back, questioning the phrase "finding time to stream." It's been over four years since that post was published, but the question is as relevant as ever. As a cord-cutter of well over a decade, I've seen streaming evolve from a niche activity to the dominant way most people consume entertainment. But has that shift changed how we think about watching TV? I'd argue that it hasn't, and the very idea of "finding time to stream" is still a misconception.

What is Streaming Anymore?

When I first started down this path, streaming was something you did on the side. My son showed me how to watch shows on a gaming console back in 2008, which sparked my interest. Later, with my first Roku device, streaming became a viable alternative to cable. But back then, it felt like a separate activity, a choice you made to access content.

Today, that's no longer the case. The lines between streaming and traditional TV are completely blurred. Services like Hulu+Live TV and YouTube TV offer the same live channels you'd get from a cable company, and every major network has a streaming hub, such as ESPN Plus or HBO Max. We access these services on devices from the Big Four platforms—Google TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV—all of which are now just as common as a standard remote control. The content is simply there, available on demand, waiting for us to press play.

The "Finding Time" Fallacy

So why do we still say we need to "find time" to stream? We never said we had to "find time to watch TV." The truth is, it's not a different activity at all. Streaming is simply the modern method of TV delivery. You're not carving out time for a new chore or hobby; you're just turning on the TV.

The real fallacy is in prioritizing entertainment over everything else. Whether it's a book, a game, or a streaming series, these things are meant to be a pleasant distraction, not the main event. It's a matter of balance. We shouldn't feel like we're constantly searching for a window to watch something new. Instead, we should fit our entertainment into the time we have available, after we've taken care of our daily responsibilities.

Priorities and Real Life

This is a point that I believe is more important now than ever. Life is not a series of episodes. It's a series of moments that we should cherish, and those moments are often found away from a screen. The value of our time is immense, and we should be protective of it. Health, family, and career should always be at the forefront of our minds. Entertainment, including streaming, should serve to enrich our lives, not consume them.

The next time you hear someone say they can't "find time to stream," remind them that they don't need to. They simply need to make time to watch TV, just as they always have. My Streaming Life is a simple, no-frills setup on my televisions, allowing me to access all my favorite services without any fuss. I may not always have a lot of time to watch TV, but when I do, it's there waiting for me, just like it was with a cord.