We’ve all been there, haven’t we? It’s 1 am, we have to get up for work early in the morning but the episode that has just finished ended on such a cliff hanger that you gasped and startled the cat, who was sensibly asleep like you should be. You’ll tell yourself “just one more”, and before you know it, you are 4 cups of coffee down by 7 am and are using matchsticks to keep your eyes propped up at your computer screen.
Sound familiar?
Binge-watching a great TV show is addictive and exciting, but, surprise surprise, also has some downsides.
This piece will take you through the pros and cons of binge-watching your favourite TV program, so you can go on to ignore the cons and focus on the pros indefinitely.
You are welcome.
Binge Watching Shows Facilitates a Social Connection
You read that right. Despite the fact, you may not have changed out of your joggers for 24 hours and counting, and god forbid if anyone tries to facetime you, your binge-watching session will help you improve your social life.
When we binge-watch a show, especially when it is trending, viewers create somewhat of a sense of community. There is this common ground where people can discuss this mutual interest indefinitely, including theories, ideas, and the fact that episode 13 could NOT have just ended like that.
Interestingly, romantic relationships also benefit from binge-watching, which is not only extremely friendly on the wallet but helps foster quality time together based on something that is mutually enjoyable, and not mentally taxing.
That being said, too much time in front of a screen can cause mental health issues and can also lead to loneliness, so it is good to take a break and get out into the real world for a little bit.
Binge-Watching a Show Can Be More Fulfilling
One way to get right into a story or the characters is to have a fully immersive binging session. When we leave gaps in between episodes, we have time to re-adjust and fall out of this precious zone that watching one episode after the next creates. Things are much easier to follow when we follow episodes directly after one another and getting to know the characters is like an unbroken stream, which can make the whole experience of the show more fulfilling.
However, there is also evidence to suggest that others found it less fulfilling to watch a show all in one go, and much preferred the anticipation between each episode.
This pro and con seemingly boil down to preference, however, if you are pro binge and everything comes to a devastating halt when it is over, why not look at getting involved in a fandom or taking a tour around a shows production location to keep the magic alive?
Binge Watching Helps with Stress Relief
For a great stress-busting activity, binge-watching one of your favourite shows is a great way to “switch the brain off”, tuning out the stresses and pressures of everyday life. Watching your favourite show also releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is great for relaxing our mind.
That being said, don’t get carried away.
Sitting down for too long, not sleeping enough and snacking on unhealthy stuff to keep watching a show is not good for your mental health in the long run, so make sure to turn the TV off if your sofa starts to form a mould around your body.
