It's Friday night and the newest season of your favorite show was just released on Netflix! What are you going to do? Binge-watch it, of course!
Binge-watching is the latest trend in television consumption, especially since some sites like Netflix release every episode of a season at once. It's easy to get sucked into a show, especially when Netflix automatically begins the next episode as soon as the first finishes. However, bingewatching requires a commitment and done incorrectly, it can leave the watcher feeling disoriented, exhausted and exceptionally emotional. Next time you want to bingewatch the entire 10 hours of a season, proceed prepared! Check out this guide to help you.
Preparation
Before you begin your journey you definitely need to prepare. Make sure you have your basic necessities.
Food
Remember, you’re going to be pretty sedentary for the next 10-12 hours, so make sure you eat something beforehand that won’t leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Maybe a light salad, so you feel refreshed as you snuggle into your blankets. That being said, during the viewing make sure to stock up on junk foods to munch on in order to keep you energized throughout the show.
Drinks
Water is a necessity, so make sure you have a ton of that! Fill up a soda bottle with water and make sure to be drinking! You can even mark off on the bottle how much you’d like to drink per episode. Bonus: if you finish off one bottle, you might not even have to go far to relieve yourself.
Habitat
You have to, of course, decide on where you want to watch. The best place is a room where minimal light can come in. Make sure to cover any windows in the room and don’t forget a “do not disturb” sign on the door. Tissue boxes are also important to have on-hand. Cuddle up under some blankets, balance your laptop on your lap or kick back and enjoy your television.
Clothing
Make sure to wear something loose and breathable. Sweats are just fine. Wear layers that you can rearrange at will. Just make you’re not wearing your favorite shirt because it’s likely to be soaked in tears, sweat and possibly soda by the conclusion of your journey.
While Watching
Are you staying hydrated? Are you hungry at all? Do you need to use the bathroom? It’s important not to deprive yourself of these things, not for “one more episode.” It’s easy to get sucked in.
If you’re at the halfway point in an episode, this might be a good time for a (brief) break. Get up, stretch a little bit, and replenish your food and water supply. At this point, you also may be feeling a lot of emotion. You may angry, upset, excited or scared. This might be a good time to write a short blog post and let all that pent-up emotion go, so you can start the next half feeling fresh! However, steer clear of most social media at this point to avoid seeing any spoilers.
Just Before the Finale...
This is the time, now more than ever, to prepare yourself. Have you taken a deep breath? Take one. Are you wearing mascara? Take it off. Do you have sufficient blankets? Draw them closer. Have you prayed for the life of your favorite character? Do it. Are you ready? Press go.
After the Season
The conclusion of a season is wrought with emotion. You may be on cloud nine or you may be outraged. It’s important to acknowledge these emotions and perhaps write about them or peruse the internet for articles to sympathize with. However, don’t forget to listen to your body, too and take care of it as well.
After you’re finished watching, don’t stand up immediately. Take a few minutes to breathe, release any tension in your shoulders and stretch your legs. Take a slow lap around the room and then begin slowly exposing yourself to light again. At this point, you may be unsure if you want to sleep or talk to everyone you can about the season. The former is probably the best, considering the amount of time you’ve been awake. Rest those tired eyes! In the coming days you may want to re-watch some episodes that you were particularly drowsy or distracted for. A week from now, everyone else will have watched the season, too. Until then, make sure to keep those lips sealed!
Follow this guide and you should have a memorable, safe and exciting binge-watching experience!
