Do you ever sit in front of your TV, intending to watch one episode of your favourite show, only to realise that the entire day has passed?
Binge-watching is a fun and relaxing way to pass the time, but it is also very easy to become addicted to.
Online services can consume a significant amount of your time, leaving you with no time for other activities.
That is why reading is a more productive way to unwind after a long day at work.
If you often find yourself binge-watching during the day, you will definitely want to read on – because all is not lost!
You will find many helpful tips on how to quit that and read a book instead. You’ll learn how to turn off autoplay on VoD services, earn your episodes, set alarms, and much more.
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How to Quit Binge-Watching
The first step to quitting binge-watching is deciding why you want to do that.
For some people, binge-watching is an important part of their lives, and quitting it will mean cutting out a huge chunk of their free time.
While it is easy to do, it can also be very hard, especially if you are used to letting the TV entertain you for hours.
However, there are many benefits associated with reading more, so remember why you want to quit binge-watching in the first place and remind yourself of those reasons every day.
Set a Deadline
To make it easier for you to quit binge-watching, use a helpful trick.
Set a deadline by which you are not allowed yourself to watch any episodes – unless you are certain that you have earned them.
If you are reading a book, you can use the completion percentage on your Kindle as your deadline.
Alternatively, you can set a fixed number of books, e-books, or audiobooks that you will read within a certain period of time.
Also you can look for what is the best selling novel of all time. Whatever works best for you is the most helpful, but make sure that you stick to it.
Track Your Progress
It is very difficult to stop doing something that you aren’t aware of – that is why you should keep track of how much time you spend binge-watching every day. It helps to establish a routine and follow it every day.
To track your time spent binge-watching, use a TV timer app or rely on the stopwatch feature on your smartphone.
Remember, the value isn’t in stopping the clock – but in knowing exactly how long you have been watching something.
The more aware of your binge-watching habit you become, the easier it will be to stop it.
Turn Off Autoplay
Autoplay makes it incredibly easy to watch multiple episodes in quick succession because each episode starts as soon as the previous one ends.
While autoplay can provide an enjoyable experience, it can also be detrimental when it causes a binge-watching addiction.
As soon as you notice autoplay turning on itself, turn it off. This way, you won’t be able to binge-watch without your own permission.
Earn Your Episodes
If you are a big fan of TV shows and movies, use them as a reward for completing certain tasks or achieving goals that you have set for yourself.
This way, instead of binge-watching whenever you want to relax, you will only watch them when you have earned them.
You can look forward to watching your favorite shows even more because they will be special moments in your life instead of everyday chores.
For example, if you want to watch one episode of your favourite show every night before bedtime, earn that right by meditating for 10 minutes each evening.
Over time, meditation will become just as much a part of your routine.
This strategy also works for e-books and audiobooks, learning, or working – all that matters is whether or not you have earned the right to watch something at the end of the day.
Remember Why You Don’t Want to Binge-Watch
If you have trouble finding the motivation to stop, remind yourself why you don’t want to binge-watch anymore.
Find reasons why reading books is better than watching shows on VoD services and remind yourself of these reasons when your motivation starts to wane.
Find reasons why living a healthy lifestyle is important, such as having energy for exercise or being able to enjoy holidays with your family and friends without falling asleep partway through them.
It really helps if you know what you are giving up when deciding whether or not to watch another episode.
This way, you can make an informed decision about whether or not it is worth it.
The Bottom Line
Binge-watching has become a common activity nowadays – and while for some people, it’s nothing more than having fun once in some time, for others, it can become a problem.
But acknowledging the problem is the first step to success – so if you’ve done that, there’s quite a straight road ahead.
To quit binge-watching, you may need to set a deadline, track your time spent binge-watching, turn off autoplay, earn your episodes, and remember why you want to quit.
If you do that, you will find that it is much easier to control yourself and continue reading more instead of watching tv-shows all the time.