Benefits of Binge Watching

Emily Rose
“I’m here, but nothing”, Yayoi Kusama, 2013
“I’m here, but nothing”, Yayoi Kusama, 2013

Binge watching isn’t normally seen as “productive” or “a good use of time”, but I’ve come to find that there are some definite exceptions to that mindset. In fact, the first one’s indisputable – what if your goal is to finish eight seasons of a show within the week? Binge watching is the only productive way to get it done. That argument’s airtight. Plus, it’s going to take some extreme focus, dedication, and commitment to see your goals through. Those transferrable skills are executive-level resume worthy.

There is something to be said for sitting down to a task and getting it done. Shows keep getting made and the to-watch list keeps piling up, until suddenly it’s just easier to procrastinate on everyone’s favorite method of procrastination. Pop some popcorn, turn off the lights, and turn on Netflix – it’s time to get some work done. Here’s why we should all be pro-binge watching:

Increase Focus

Everyone needs something to distract them at all times, because the world’s too intolerable without it. But there’s really no need for a distraction from the distraction. Why have you got to be on your laptop when the TV’s on? Why have you got a cell phone in your hands in front of the laptop screen? Prove to yourself you’re even able to do one thing at a time. And then do it five more times in a row.

Reduce Guilt 

I can’t believe how behind I am on what are supposedly my favorite shows. I love these characters and I have no idea what they’re up to. I’ve haven’t checked in on them in months. Their entire world’s changed by now and I’ve just been sitting here checking Twitter. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to start back up again. Jump back in with three or four episodes before the guilt takes over and you’re left behind in seasons-old dust.

Up Productivity

If I only let myself watch TV while I’m also doing the laundry, I’m not actually going to be doing either. Don’t waste time shuffling around deciding what you should be doing. Just watch a few episodes, do the laundry, then make some queso with all the time you saved.

Be Happy

You’ve got a favorite show for a reason – there’s some kind of value in watching it. Your time’s not going to be better spent flipping though channels. Get rid of all the static. Be purposeful with your time and spend it doing something you love. The next day, brag about the awesome choices you made over the weekend. Bonus points if they involved cake pops..

Breakfast, Bananas, and Black Books – 2016’s First Week In Nerdery

Emily Rose

One reason I don’t cook is I have a lot of trouble not eating the ingredients while I’m making something. When I made banana pancakes this week, there was definitely some banana missing in the banana-to-egg ratio of the final product.

Two of my favorite parts of Adventure Time are when 1) Finn and Jake are in their pajamas and the late-night light flows through the treehouse like it never does at any other time of day, and 2) when Jake makes breakfast. Nothing in my life has really inspired me to learn to cook so far, but pretending to be Jake at least helps.

Is cooking really worth it, though? You spend so much time getting everything ready, then you’ve got to cook your food and make sure you’re not burning it, but also not giving yourself food poisoning. Then you eat it and it’s gone in ten minutes, and you’ve still got to clean up and write a blog post about it. I feel much better off putting a Lean Cuisine in the microwave, and the way I cook, the results are about the same anyway.

Back to Adventure Time — I made some slight progress on my to-watch list this week! I also got to see how convenient the ad-free version of Hulu Plus really is when I watched Adventure Time with my friends Kasey and Lupe at their apartment. Since Cartoon Network moved all their shows over there from Netflix, it might be worth getting just to stay caught up on cartoons. Also, since Black Books is finally back on Netflix (again), and I had to seek shelter at my parents’ house from the North Texas Boxing Day tornadoes, I got three episodes into that rewatch. If we could just get Red Dwarf back on Netflix, balance would be completely restored.