I Stopped Binging Shows and Now I Enjoy Them More Than Ever

As much as I love racing to see the ending of a good show as fast as possible, binge-watching ultimately dulls the experience. When I stopped to smell the roses, the benefits were too great to ignore.

1Shows Are Given Time to Marinate

There’s no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t have enjoyed half the shows on Netflix, Max, and Disney+ as much as I did if I had binge-watched them. I watched Netflix’s Living With Yourself—which I highly recommend, by the way—with my wife, one episode a week, and something tells me the cliffhangers at the end of each episode wouldn’t have had as much impact.

However, I did notice it raised the bar. I’m a writer first and a viewer second; I recognize bad writing and bad dialogue even more when a show has time to bounce around in my noggin. Because of that, there’s a higher chance I will drop a show entirely if it isn’t up to my standard. It’s a bit cutthroat, but I’m left with more time to invest in better experiences and more likely to rate streaming shows when I’m finished.

2I’m Actually Finishing Seasons

One of the most surprising side effects of my abstinence from binging shows is that I’m actually finishing a whole series more often. My first instinct is to get through more by binge-watching, but that wasn’t the case. More often than not, I was being done by burnout, which resulted in many shows being entirely ignored.

It also didn’t help I was trying to juggle a couple of shows at a time. Once I axed that habit and kept to a loose schedule, I started chipping away at my watch list steadily. Sure, it takes longer, but who cares? I’m enjoying myself.

3Discussion Around the Show is Better

Giving an episode time to settle has, without a doubt, made conversation richer. I don’t just watch shows to experience them, but to discuss them with others. I’d rather examine and theorize episode by episode rather than cram the discussion of an entire show into one or two conversations.

I noticed that when I try to broach the subject of a show with someone I know has binge-watched it, the conversation tends to be painted with broad strokes. I’ve done that myself. When I take my time, it’s much easier for me to express why I like a particular scene or an actor’s cadence and even pick up on little details missed by an all-night binge session.

4It’s Much Easier to Schedule an Episode

While watching back-to-back episodes of a good show sounds great, I don’t want to spend my days like that—not even on my day off. Perhaps I’m becoming more aware of my time, but I believe variety is the spice of life. I’ve got other things to do, you know?

When I stick to just an episode or two, I’m left with far more time to invest in other hobbies and activities. I’ve got a family, D&D campaigns to run, books to read, art, astrophotography, and creative writing. If I spent an entire afternoon watching a TV show, I’d feel like my day was wasted.

5It’s Creating Better Habits for My Kids

I think it would send my kids the wrong message if I always spent my downtime indulging in screen time. There are certainly plenty of fun and educational websites for kids, but if I see an opportunity to introduce a healthier concept in a subtle way, I take the chance.

Their patience was rewarded with the same benefits I experienced—the fun discussions, following through with a good show, spending time on more productive activities, and the anticipation of the next episode. My son’s eyes lit up when he correctly guessed Jackie Chun would win the World Martial Arts Tournament in Dragon Ball.

Honestly, I won’t argue with those results. Bingeing is like junk food—it tastes good in the moment, but I’ll forget about it the next day. But a five-star meal I waited for? That comes with delicious food and conversation, and I’ll remember that for months, possibly years.