This is how you stop binge-watching series

Anyone who still goes outside or manages to maintain a social life these days is so hopelessly old-fashioned and not cool, because a bit of a person from this time spends the whole day inside on the couch binge-watching series. Series are the new movies, series are hip and hot, and everyone watches them.

Sometimes I'm surprised that it's completely socially acceptable to talk endlessly with people about which series you've all watched, which mainly means that you've been sitting in front of a screen for days and nights. You won't hear me complain about it, because the only moments I still see daylight is when I bike to and from the office, the rest of my time I sit in front of that screen watching Scandal, my latest addiction. It has happened a few times that I sat on the couch with bloodshot eyes until 06:00, so tired and so eager to sleep but then there was another cliffhanger and I had to HAD to click on “next episode”. So I started looking for ways to break the binge. If you're also stuck in a series, this will help you. I think. Or actually, I hope.

1. Let the battery run out

This only works for those who, like me, watch series on a laptop, and not via a TV. I often intentionally let my Macbook run out of battery so that the screen just goes black and I have to go to bed. Of course, you can plug the charger back in, but once it has stopped, it's much easier not to continue watching. Netflix remembers where you left off, so you don't have to worry about that.

2. Stop halfway

SSeries are made in such a way that the cliffhanger ensures that you can't stop. Be smarter than that and stop watching somewhere halfway through the episode instead of at the end, during a calm and not hysterically exciting moment.

3. Thorough preparation

When the clock mercilessly ticks towards 02:00 and the alarm goes off the next morning at 08:00, then I know I have to stop. During the series, I start tidying up the house a bit, turning on lights, brushing my teeth, and instead of lying on the couch, I sit up straight with one leg already in a standing position. When the episode is over, I close the screen without thinking and rush to bed. It really helps.

4. Watch with someone

Personally, I find it quite difficult to watch series with someone because you are always dependent on the other person's schedule. But it also has advantages, because you can help each other to hit stop and not continue. Disadvantage: if you both have no backbone, you are hopelessly lost.