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Keeping up with your job, housework, and parenting duties leaves us with little free time in today’s fast-paced culture. The new TV shows that everyone seems to be raving about is perfect for the few moments of quiet we manage to squeeze into our busy days. If you start watching a TV show at midnight, you’ll already have finished it by morning.
You’re more tempted than ever to forego sleep now. You know you have room in your schedule for “just one more” episode. Yes, even if it means putting off a good night’s sleep. Everybody makes mistakes, right? But you can’t blame yourself, I guess. Internet video streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu are very addictive!
You may watch thousands of movies and TV series from all around the world for a simple monthly fee. It is only prudent on your part to take full advantage of the opportunity presented to you, but is binge-watching good or bad? That’s what we’ll be discussing in this article!
The Upsides of Binge-Watching
While some people are negatively affected by binge-watching, many have a good time watching tv shows or movies. Below are some precise reasons that would speak about the tremendous and positive impact of binge-watching in our lives.
1- Helps in “Breaking the Ice”
Confused about how to initiate a discussion? The next time you find yourself at a loss for words during a get together or social event, try bringing up some of your favorite recent television or film experiences to help break the ice.
It’s possible that you and the other person have a connection that stems from the fact that you both enjoy the same TV show. You’ll also be able to learn what other people think about the show or movie by hearing their reviews.
2- Improves our Knowledge
Binge-watching offers an extraordinary opportunity to increase one’s perceived comprehension, memory, and knowledge across numerous subjects. Viewers who spend a lot of time watching TV online may look up unfamiliar concepts or plot points on Google.
Because of this, they may learn a great deal just by viewing a video. In fact, several viewers have boasted that their vocabulary grew because of their binge-watching habits. Isn’t that fascinating?
3- Assists with Relieving Stress
As humans, we can all relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, with the resulting want to simply run away and abandon everything. However, as stressful as life may get, we must accept that there will be moments when we simply cannot escape.
When we binge-watch, it’s like closing the door on any mental tension or strain for a little while. If you find a TV show or movie with a character or plot line that reflects aspects of your own life, you may find that it improves other aspects of your lifestyle as well.
The Downsides of Binge-Watching
Let’s now discuss the negative impacts that binge-watching may have on your brain and mental health. Keep in mind that these are merely the opinions of people who stream quite frequently; consequently, they may or may not apply to you.
1- Contributes to Insomnia
Over time, binge-watching entire seasons at once may disrupt your sleep schedule since you won’t be able to relax and go to sleep without finding out how it all turns out. Binge-watchers are more likely to have sleep problems, according to a research from NCBI.
Bright screen light is a known contributor to “pre-sleep arousal,” which can make it difficult to fall asleep after a late night of binge watching.The worst thing that will come of this is that you will feel physically and mentally drained, due to poor sleeping patterns.
2- Depression and Anxiety
Binge-watching has been shown to alleviate sadness since it gives the viewer a sense of satisfaction at seeing the series through to its conclusion. At the same time, if you spend all your time watching television and movies, you’re more likely to develop insomnia, mood disorders, fatigue, sadness, and a decrease in productivity.
This may result in anxiety and depression, if you’re already in a bad place mentally. Not to mention, movies/TV shows with triggering storylines and plots may increase anxiety, especially if an episode ends at a cliffhanger. This in turn affects your overall daily routine.
3- Lack of Physical Activity
Getting some fresh air and moving about will do wonders for both your mental and physical state. It keeps your mental wellness in check while also revving up your metabolism, which is crucial to function, especially when you’re having bad days.
Unfortunately, a number of studies have found that binge watching might cause a person to lose interest in engaging in physical activities. This may contribute to them becoming lazy, even resulting in some people disassociating from gatherings, which is a cause of concern.
Have Fun but Be Responsible!
The secret to enjoying any excellent thing in life is moderation. Just a little self-control may make all the difference between a satisfying and a frustrating binge-watching experience.
1- Watch Lengthy Shows on the Weekends
Users should establish a “binge-watching” regimen similar to their workplace routines. During the workweek, you may use streaming services to watch complete seasons of short-running TV shows like “The Office”. Meanwhile, the weekend is the best time to watch a TV series of five or more seasons, such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” or “The Walking Dead.”
2-. Look After Your Physical Health
It is not recommended to immediately collapse onto the sofa or bed and stay there for the next ten hours without getting up. Those who engage in binge watching can have healthy lives by maintaining an active lifestyle.
If you are watching a long television show, you should get up and stretch in between episodes. Pause the show for a few minutes. Walk. Drink some water. Then go back to watching your show on the television!
3- Quench Your Thirst for Teasers
In many cases, cliffhangers are what motivate viewers to click the “next episode” button at the end of each episode. The next time you’re debating whether or not to watch a 1-hour episode, try cutting your viewing to 15-20 minutes instead. This helps satisfy your need to know what occurs next without giving too much away!
Wrapping up
Without a doubt, binge viewing may have both beneficial and harmful effects on your mental health. You’ll need to exercise some restraint to keep things on a favorable trajectory. For more information like this, feel free to visit Streamints – Your No.1 Daily Source of Entertainment!
