Do you binge-watch TV shows? I am guilty of doing that often! In fact. I have once finished a season of a show in an entire day! Two seasons in one weekend too! There is something about getting so invested in a good show that makes you want to do it. It makes you enjoy watching many episodes in a row. As much fun as it can be though, I also know that binge-watching has negative consequences. This is why I want to share the reasons I binge-watch and what I do to make sure that I do it responsibly.
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| Photo by KoolShooters |
An episode of the Fandesals Podcast discussed the concept of binge-watching. This was what inspired me to write this post that I hope can help you balance out this habit with your daily life.
People binge-watch shows for various reasons. Let me share some of the reasons why I do it. If we have similar reasons, leave me a message in the comments so we can talk more about it!
Binge-Watching as An Escape
Until recently, I had a job that was causing me a lot of stress. I had been using binge-watching as an escape, a distraction from the concerns of my everyday life. Watching TV shows can be like entering a different life. It's a place where you do not have to be an active participant. You get to be an observer who watches it all from your safe distance.
Getting my mind into a whole different world helps me to think about something else. It helps me forget the stresses of the time, and it has helped me to relax after a long and hard day at work. It helps me to decompress, and I found that watching feel-good shows helps me to do that.
Story Arcs
My most recent binge-watched shows have been K-Dramas. I have been a fan of Korean dramas for a while now. They always seem to have stories that are different from what I see on Western shows or even on local TV. I can’t help but binge-watch to see what happens next because things get so interesting as the story goes along.
I love that the Korean dramas that I have enjoyed are never predictable. It makes you want to watch to see if you guessed right on what you thought was going to happen next!
Instant Gratification
In these times, we are all used to getting what we want, when we want it. Instant gratification. This is why binge-watching is so attractive. I grew up waiting for the next episode of my favorite TV show after one week. Being able to see the next episode right after the one you watched is a gift. I love it!
Yes, instant gratification is not always a good thing especially if we get used to it, but it’s still a great feeling when you’re binge-watching (especially if the last episode was a cliffhanger!).
There are also a lot of shows these days that are less than an hour per episode. It makes binge-watching more tempting to do. With some shows having 8-16 episodes per season at around 30 minutes long, it is easy to finish one season a day. You can complete a good show in a day! It's something that makes binge-watching an attractive way to spend your day.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
This is a common reason for a lot of people to binge-watch. Not being able to share conversations with other people about a certain show can lead to FOMO. You may be late to the party, but you can binge-watch if you haven’t caught up with it like everyone else.
I’ve been guilty of this when it came to several TV shows that became popular. I binge-watched seasons of it to catch up. It was more because I wanted to keep up with everyone else, not because I liked the shows themselves.
That FOMO feels so real these days. Almost everything is available to stream lately. So many people are creating shows or movies for that medium so there is a lot to watch. There is so much content to enjoy, which also means the need for more time (which we don’t have) to watch them. This is why people like me binge-watch a lot when they have time to squeeze it in. This has caused me to lose precious sleep in the process.
Unfortunately, as enjoyable as it is to binge-watch, the practice is not a healthy one. Sitting on your couch or in bed for hours at a time is not good for you. So is binge-watching and eating the entire time (or missing meals completely to watch).
I am guilty of binge-watching shows to the point of watching an entire season in one sitting. I know the negative effects of that and I knew I had to be more responsible with my viewing habits. Little by little, I managed to improve that in these ways:
Have a Schedule
Set a time (and dates) when you can binge-watch. This is at times that does not mean missing out on sleep or your meals for the day.
A lot of us (including me) are guilty of doing TV marathons and having a binge-watching addiction. As fun as these shows can be, we still need to make time for our health and other things in life. We need time with our family and friends, and time for other interests and pursuits.
As good as it feels to watch an entire season in one sitting, it is also better to pace yourself. Give yourself a few episodes at a time. If you have an entire day to binge-watch, it is best to still have a schedule. Take a break between an episode or two to move around and be active (and to give your eyes a break).
Mix with Other Activities
Speaking of being active, one of the ways that I binge-watch these days is by mixing it with other activities. I work out regularly, and these days I work out with these shows playing in front of me. That way I get to watch and get fit at the same time.
When things are exciting in the shows I’m watching, they tend to give me a little bit of a push with my workouts. This motivates me to work harder. This is always a good thing because let’s admit it, working out is not always a fun thing to do.
I’ve also made a point to only watch while I do my morning workouts. That way I push myself to work out daily to see what’s next in the show I’m following. This benefits me because binge-watching motivates me to work out. I also get to control the amount of time I stream and watch these shows this way. I end up limiting my screen time to when I am being active.
Another way that I do this is when I’m cleaning or doing other chores. I have the show playing on the TV in one corner of the room or on my phone and tablet nearby while I’m doing something else. It’s better than sitting or lying down all day while watching because I’m moving around.
Be Discerning of What You Watch
As I mentioned earlier, I often binge-watch to escape and relax after a stressful day. While there are shows that may be good and that people love, they are not always good for my mental health. The themes of some shows tend to affect me negatively and I have decided to stop watching them.
Recently, I’ve made the conscious decision to be more selective of the shows that I watch. I have decided to avoid those that have themes that could cause me more stress or add negativity to my life. I know that you can’t avoid drama in shows, that's part of the appeal. But I at least try to choose ones that are more on the funny, often campy, and entertaining side. That's better for me instead of the dark and depressing ones.
What is important here is knowing your limits and being discerning of the shows that are best for you. In the long run, this choice would be good for your mental health.
It can be satisfying to watch the entire season of your favorite show in one go. But we need to always remember that too much of anything is not good for you. Learn to strike a balance between enjoying the show and having a life outside of watching TV.
Shows are a form of entertainment; they are not meant to take over our lives. Always make note of how binge-watching is affecting you. This is about your physical and mental health. Some shows can lead you to be more stressed instead of more relaxed. Make the conscious decision to select a pace and a genre of shows that would be best for you.
Do you agree with the ways that I am trying to binge-watch in a more balanced way? Do you have any practices that you do that I did not mention? If yes, share your ideas with me. I would love to learn from you!
If you understand Tagalog, I hope you like this related episode of the Fandesals Podcast. Enjoy!
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