In a world full of Netflix, Hulu, HBO and Amazon Prime it is so easy to get caught up with watching episode after episode.

Before we know it, hours have passed and we have done very little of what we intended to do. Don’t get me wrong, there is something comforting about coming home at the end of a long day and just sitting down, catching up with your latest TV show. It is a way to decompress and to escape reality for a while. But all too often we lose control over ourselves. We can’t stop ourselves from watching another episode and then another. We tell ourselves that we will only watch one episode fully knowing that that won’t happen.

The time that we waste almost daily in front of the screen is something that we will never get back. Because truth be told, as great as any TV show might be, it is just fiction after all. Our lives are not enriched because we know that Penny and Leonard got married or that Carrie Bradshaw saved herself from another fashion emergency.

The problem though is, that we are being encouraged to binge watch television. So many popular websites and social media outlets talk about binge-watching TV shows. Whether that be the newest fan favorite, old ones that we have forgotten about, or ones we should watch because we will miss out if we don’t.

But by doing that we are passing up the opportunity to truly enrichen our lives and broadening our horizons.

Here are 5 things to do instead of binge-watching TV.

1. Read a good book

Nothing will get your imagination going more than reading a good book. Whether it’s a romance novel, a self-help book or an intense mystery, reading will put you back in touch with that vivid creativity that you used to have as a child.

2. Start writing in a journal or a blog

Using the time at the end of the day to reflect on it and writing down your thoughts can be the best therapy sometimes. Not only will you be able to remember what you did that day later on but you will see how far you’ve come over a certain period of time. If that’s not for you, then maybe start a blog and write about a subject you are passionate about.

3. Meditate

Personally, I’ve found that the best way to relax and decompress is to meditate. Meditation puts you back in touch with your body and your soul and teaches you self-care and self-love.

4. Exercise

There never seems to be enough time in a day to exercise and we always struggle to get our body ready just in time for summer. What if instead of watching TV we started working out again? Not only will you feel better about yourself, you are also doing something for your health.

5. Pick up a new hobby

What better way to spend your free time than by picking up a new hobby? Go learn that language you’ve always wanted to know, take that cooking class, or join your local knitting club. Go out there and do something that will bring you joy.