BY: Caitlin Gallagher
Netflix, naps and snacks—this used to be a perfect Sunday. I would start a new series as quickly as I finished the first. I could not watch an episode fast enough. If you are like me, binge-watching can quickly become an everyday occurrence. What if I told you that binge-watching negatively affects your health? Your mental and physical health could be suffering. Northwestern Medicine compiled a list of negative effects of binge-watching that include: a “drug-like high”, isolation, insomnia, anxiety and depression, back pain, weight gain and risk of heart disease. Some of these may seem really extreme, but as the epidemic of binge-watching grows, so does the risk for all of these.
In a survey released by Netflix, 73 percent of people felt happy as they binge-watched their favorite shows. Northwestern Medicine says that engaging in any activity that you enjoy, including watching television, releases dopamine, a chemical that promotes feelings of happiness. The more you watch, the more dopamine your brain produces, thus creating a “high”.
While binge-watching is a nice way to unwind and relax, it is also a way to unknowingly isolate yourself from friends, family and the world. Disconnecting from human interaction can lead to anxiety and depression. Insomnia can also come with binge-watching. I have told myself, “last episode,” so many times that I was sure I coined the term. However, one last episode turns into three and then five and the next thing you know a whole season has passed. We tend to lose track of time while binging our favorite shows and that really cuts into the healthy amount of time we need for sleeping, or in our case, studying.
Lastly, the more we watch, the less likely we are to partake in physical activity. It’s much more convenient to sit at home and watch TV than it is to go to the gym or for a run. A lack of physical activity increases your risk for heart disease, oxygen decrease and developing poor eating habits.
If I have just described your life, fear not. There are small steps you can take to kick your binge-watching habits. Limiting yourself (and staying strict) to a couple episodes at a time and then moving on to another activity will help to break the addiction. Try setting a time limit to help you keep track of your other obligations. DON’T binge watch in the dark, as this is a sure-fire way to lose sense of time. Try watching with another person and openly engage in conversation about the show with them to prevent isolation.