The best strategy to take on and conquer a marathon is to prepare. This is no easy task, because if it was then everyone would do it. It takes a lot of willpower, concentration, and determination to finish a marathon. The distance or time of the marathon can all depend on the runner or viewer. When speaking about a viewer of a marathon, the term does not refer to the audience watching the marathon. Rather the marathoner and the viewer are the same person.

There is a new type of marathoning which now takes place on a coach, a bed, or any other place where a person might watch television. This new craze is media marathoning. Media marathoning is the act of consuming large amounts of media in a small amount of time. Similar to a running marathon in which a person runs a larger distance in one sitting. Tools that allow for this type of marathon to exist are live streaming, and easily accessed media such as Netflix, Hulu, and DVR. These programs provide viewers with higher access to content than regular television. This allow for viewers to watch countless amounts of shows and movies without having to wait for weekly scheduled television programs.

Media marathoning can have both positive and negative effects based on the viewer. Positive effects that watching hours of one’s favorite show can include relaxation, therapy, or even socially. Nothing can be more relaxing at the end of the day, than kicking your feet up and relaxing while indulging in hours of your favorite show. The therapeutic aspect of media marathon comes to play when someone has an injury or illness. This activity can help pass the time while they are sick or injured because it does not demand any physical work. It’s positive effects on social life is how watching and marathoning a popular show gives people something to talk about. If two different people take part in marathoning the same show, they have something in common to talk about.

Some of the negative effects can include procrastination, laziness, and poor sleep habits. By watching and binging on media, it is often something that takes up time from other activities. Often the idea of “one more episode”, comes the push back of another activity or responsibility. Laziness is something that can be connected to media marathoning as well. The action of sitting or lying down for hours without moving can cause viewers to become lazy. From experience, I have had times where the kitchen was just too far because my show was on. Active hobbies can be replaced by media marathoning which would also cause laziness. Lastly there is a negative effect that marathoning plays on sleep. The hours put into continuing a show after several episodes cuts into the time one has to sleep. Some people use the technique of binge watching television as a way to go to sleep. However, sometimes the show or movie there are watching is too interesting. Therefore people would rather stay up and be entertained than go to sleep and miss out.

Whether the effects be good or bad, I believe it depends on the viewer the self, but there is no argument that can say this trend isn't growing. More and more companies are making it easier to access media and consume it at large rates. With companies like that and the constant advancement in technology, this is a hobby that can only get larger.