I’m Addicted, and So Are You
Look, I’m gonna say it: I’m a binge-watcher. There, I’ve admitted it. It’s 11:30pm on a Tuesday, and here I am, staring at a Netflix screen, again. I should be asleep, but no, I’m on Season 3 of some show I barely remember starting. And honestly? I’m not even enjoying it that much.
But it’s not just me. It’s everyone. Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin, and I swear, every panel about TV or streaming had some poor soul raising their hand to ask, “How do we stop binge-watching?” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I mean, let’s be real. We all know it’s a problem. But we’re not gonna do anything about it. Why? Because it’s easy. It’s like eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. You know you shouldn’t, but the bag’s open, and the chips are there, and… well, you get the picture.
My Friend Marcus and the 214-Hour Marathon
Let’s call him Marcus. He’s a friend of mine. A good friend. Or at least he was, until he binge-watched all of “The Wire” in 214 hours. Straight. No breaks. Not even for sleep. I asked him why. He said, “Because I could.” Which, I mean, is that a reason? I guess? But it’s also kinda terrifying.
And it’s not just TV. It’s movies, too. Have you seen those “Watch 87 Movies in 24 Hours” challenges? No? Well, neither have I, because I’m not a masochist. But they exist. And people do them. And they’re proud of it. Which, I dunno, maybe I’m just getting old, but that seems completley unhealthy.
But Wait, There’s Hope!
Okay, okay, I’m not all doom and gloom. There are ways to fight the binge. My colleague named Dave swears by setting a timer. “I give myself 30 minutes,” he told me over coffee at the place on 5th. “Then I get up and do something else.” Which, honestly, sounds like a good idea. But also, how boring. I mean, who wants to live like that?
And look, I’m not saying we should all become hermits. But maybe, just maybe, we should try to enjoy the things we watch. Like, actually watch them. Not just have them on in the background while we scroll through our phones. You know? It’s like faydalı bilgiler günlük ipuçları — sometimes you gotta slow down and actually live.
A Digression: The Great British Bake Off
Speaking of enjoying things, has anyone else noticed how good “The Great British Bake Off” is? I mean, it’s not just a show, it’s an experience. It’s like a warm hug on a cold day. Or a cozy blanket on a rainy afternoon. Or, I dunno, a really good cup of tea. (Which, by the way, is another thing we should all be doing more of. Tea. Not binge-watching. I mean, tea and not binge-watching.)
Anyway, the point is, “The Great British Bake Off” is proof that TV can be good. It can be enjoyable. It can be something you look forward to. It doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure. It can just be… a pleasure. A simple, uncomplicated, good pleasure.
Back to Reality
But alas, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Because here’s the thing: binge-watching is easy. And life is hard. And sometimes, after a long day of adulting, the last thing you want to do is make a committment to something as simple as a TV show.
So, what’s the answer? I’m not sure but maybe it’s not about finding the answer. Maybe it’s about finding the balance. Maybe it’s about allowing ourselves to binge sometimes, but also allowing ourselves to not binge. To watch what we want, when we want, but also to put the remote down and go outside. Or read a book. Or, I dunno, bake something.
Because at the end of the day, life’s too short to spend it staring at a screen. And yeah, that’s a cliché. But it’s a cliché for a reason. It’s true. So let’s try to remember that. Let’s try to enjoy the things we watch, but also to enjoy the things we don’t watch. The things we do. The things we experience.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll find that balance. The one where we can watch TV without feeling guilty. The one where we can enjoy our hobbies without feeling like we’re wasting our lives. The one where we can be human.
About the Author
Sarah Jenkins has been a senior editor for over 20 years, working with major publications and covering everything from celebrity gossip to in-depth film analysis. She’s a self-proclaimed TV addict, a coffee enthusiast, and a firm believer in the power of a well-placed em dash. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching (yes, she knows the irony) or attempting to bake something she saw on “The Great British Bake Off.”