lessflix and chill

Binge watching has become the current entertainment trend thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. A Netflix survey found that 61 percent of its users regularly watch between 2-6 episodes of a show in one sitting. It has also been reported that Netflix members choose to binge-watch their way through a series versus taking their time — finishing an entire season in one week, on average.

Dr. Renee Carr, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist, reveals the main reason behind this obsessive behavior: “When binge-watching your favorite show, your brain is continually producing dopamine, and your body experiences a drug-like high. You experience a pseudo-addiction to the show because you develop cravings for dopamine.”

We all need entertainment, but compulsive entertainment and obsessive watching can prove to be risky in the long run. Instead of having binge-watching as our coping mechanism for everyday stress and boredom, wouldn’t it be wise to cut down our entertainment intake and choose to invest our time and attention into better, constructive avenues of recreation and relaxation?