Entering the spring semester of college is full of promise, and new beginnings. You tell yourself that you are going to fix all of the past mistakes you made the previous semester and be the great student you know you can be, but one thing is holding you back -- this obsession you have with this little thing called Netflix.
I am not afraid to admit that I have a problem; I mean, the first step to recovery is admitting it, right? But I was not ready to admit that my Netflix binge watching was a problem until after I got home after my 4:30 class on Wednesday and turned on Sons of Anarchy. Suddenly, it was 5 a.m. and I had watched three complete seasons. I find myself, on several occasions, willing to give up any social contact just because I would rather lie in bed and continuously watch Netflix.
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I did not think that any of this was a problem. In fact, I thought that it could be a hobby, something to occupy my time, a commitment. I could make a commitment to a series and see it through until the end. But, then, of course I realized that I was talking about a television series like it was my boyfriend. I was addicted to watching movies and television series. There are worse addictions in this world, like alcohol and drugs. But, again, I realized that I was comparing a Netflix addiction to actual addictions. Come on, now.
So I started to ask myself what makes people so infatuated with watching these television series. None of these shows have any bearing on my life, yet I find myself so emotionally invested. It is like these characters in the show were my friends. Would I ever go to medical school, train to be a surgeon, move to Seattle, work at Seattle Grace Hospital, and marry Dr. McDreamy? I wish, but no. So why do I find myself watching these shows for hours on end, without even pausing for a bathroom break? After really considering this question, I found that it is because I have something to look forward to. It is like when you were a child and got really worked up because you got a new toy that preoccupied you at school, to the point that it was all you could think about.
It can even be like reading a really good book. You become so invested in the characters, and the plot, that when something traumatic happens to those characters, you take it personally. So during your long days of classes, your countless assignments and readings, it is exhilarating to step away from the real world and join the alternate universe you secretly wish was your own. It would probably be healthier to find a hobby that is actually good for the mind and body, but when your options are working out or watching Netflix, it seems like a pretty obvious choice, if you ask me.
Netflix is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me. I love that I have access to an endless list of movies and television series. I have the chance to watch all of these shows I never had the chance, or desire to watch when they aired on TV. But when I come back from class and should really start getting a jump-start on my assignments, I cannot help but listen to the little voice inside my head whispering, “Come on, one episode can't hurt.” And before I know it that one episode turns into two seasons. So don’t feel guilty about watching Netflix, because in the end, it is always going to be more enticing than going to the gym.
