Sometimes, on a rainy Sunday, there’s just nothing better than kicking back and plowing through a season or two of one of the critically acclaimed shows you’ve got in your Netflix queue. But while binge-watching may have become America’s favorite new pastime, it can also take you to some pretty dark places.
As you snap out of an unconscious stupor at 4 a.m. and are faced with the choice of watching another episode or going to bed to get a few precious hours of sleep before having to get up for work, you might come to the realization that you have bit of a problem. So, if you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom with your streaming service addiction and are looking to cut back on your non-stop viewing marathons, here are a few helpful tips than can help you on the road back to regular media consumption habits.
7. Try to Savor Your Shows
According to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, the faster you consume media like TV shows, the less enjoyment you actually derive from them. This is because when you watch the same program for hours and hours on end, your brain becomes bored with it and you might miss out on some of the subtle intricacies that make it really great. This effect is similar to what happens when you eat too much of your favorite food and realize it’s no longer the stimulating adventure for your taste buds it once was.
By allowing yourself to ease into shows that you’re really excited about, you give yourself a chance to really let all the characters and story sink in. You might even find yourself contemplating one of the episodes you just watched and start building your own theories about what’s going to happen next. Furthermore, you’ll also notice that the anticipation built up in the time between viewings makes you far more engaged in the show the next time you sit to watch it.
It’s often said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, so why not try putting a bit of space between you and your current steaming seductress.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/31/movies-marriage-study_n_4705387.html Source: Huffingtonpost.com