It’s hard to keep track of time when you’re multitasking. Sometimes, it works in your favor, and you can get more things done in half the time. Other times, however, it backfires; you end up distracted and unable to give each task your best. If you’re binge-watching your favorite Netflix series, you might be doomed.
Readily Available Episodes
Remember the days of waiting for the latest episode of your favorite series, sitting through commercials, and waiting a week to get the next one? It all seems weird now, considering that on-demand streaming services make episodes available immediately. This means that you don’t need to wait and you get full seasons without ads. It all sounds perfect if you have nothing else to do. For the regular person, however, this binge-watching habit means that you lose hours of productivity and sleep.
What Happens to the Rest of Your Day?
There are some things that you already delegate and will not change with or without your binge-watching habit. You can call experts in Sandy for sprinkler repair, have your online purchases delivered to your doorstep, and bake, leaving you with plenty of room for binge-watching. These are not the tasks that you should be concerned about, though. It’s the essentials, such as getting out of your pajamas and socializing.
When you remove these from your schedule, you isolate yourself and feel disconnected from the rest of the world. It’s not a big problem while you’re happily following the storyline of your favorite characters, but once you’re finished with the season, and you will be soon if you haven’t been taking a break, that’s when you realize how much time has passed. Your friends and family have done productive things; you have nothing to show for it.
Is It All Bad?
Consumed in moderation, Netflix shows might improve your imagination and creativity. They do offer unique and eye-opening shows and movies, which gives you something to talk about with your friends. Being aware of the latest shows can present plenty of conversation starters and improve your coolness. The keyword, of course, is moderation. And time management. It’s doable to stay updated on your favorite shows without it taking over your life and ruining your schedule. For instance, a few episodes while you’re doing your nightly skincare routine, or on the weekends while preparing your make-ahead meals, can be a good idea. These tasks require that you be present in the moment, but you can accommodate a show running in the background without losing focus.
Enjoy It While It Lasts
All pros and cons aside, subscription-based content might be enjoyable for you right now while you only need to pay a small amount to get access to your favorite shows. As Disney and other competing companies pull out their titles from Netflix, you might need to subscribe to other streaming services to get the same amount of content you enjoy now. This could be a blow to your wallet, so enjoy the low cost of binge-watching while you can.
Binge-watching, like any enjoyable activity, should be done in moderation and scheduled to not infringe on your socialization and daily schedule. They should not take over your life; they should be a fun part of it.
