Netflix and Stress
Here’s the truth. If you say you’re not obsessed with at least one of Netflix’s plethora of TV shows, you’re lying to yourself. In an age where quality TV is at our fingertips, it’s nearly impossible to avoid it.
So we obsess, and we use our obsessions to procrastinate and avoid responsibility. Meanwhile, our homework sits still on our desks. We like to think it’s not there, but deep down we know it is. “But what about the next episode of The 100, Grey’s Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars or Doctor Who?” You look at the red arrow button with anticipation and dread. Because deep down you know that tomorrow’s math test does not care if Ross and Rachel were really on a break. This is the problem that Netflix and school has presented to us. Most of us want to do well when it comes to grades as well as enjoying our TV shows. Some people might say that you can’t have both, and that that’s what summer’s for. But what about spoilers? And the tension?! I need to know what happened! A quarter of Bishop Allen’s population will be in university next September, and will find it very hard to do much else other than study, study and study some more. The time is now, but if you do it right, you can accomplish a lot more than season 11 of Grey’s Anatomy.
The first step is to figure out how much you have on your plate that night. If you have mountains of science homework, you better get your butt to the bus stop as soon as the bell rings. If you have to, carve your way to the front of the mob so you can get on the first bus that comes your way.
When you get home, turn your phone off. This step is crucial to finishing all your homework quickly and efficiently. When you’re ready to sit in that stiff office chair, hit the books. Make a list of when you will work on each subject. Play a little bit of low-key music if it helps you concentrate. The main thing here is that you finish all your homework as quick as you can without abandoning detail!
If you have a major unit test the next morning, put most of your focus into that. If you only have to complete simple tasks, try and get to school earlier and finish it in the cafeteria. This leaves you more time to study and to sit down and watch an episode or two afterwards. The most important thing is that you don't abandon your work to compensate for the time you need to finish the next episode. Because that doesn't help you, nor your ultimate goal to Exterminate the Time Lords!—eh-hem, sorry, what I mean is, to ace that test as well as watch the next episode of Doctor Who.
If you follow all these steps, it should give you at least two hours before going to bed. Knowing this, we can do a little bit of math (sorry). For the most part, an episode lasts up to 42 minutes. If you have at least a two hour block of time to watch your shows, and you watch two episodes, approximately 1hr and 24 minutes of the 2 hour block are filled. Now you can watch two episodes of Scandal and one episode of Friends to clear your head before you go off to dream land. Or you could just watch one episode of Sherlock.
Ultimately, it’s up to you. But, it doesn't seem like a lot that you’re accomplishing and it will take longer to finish your show. Let’s look at this on a weekly basis. By watching at least two 42 minute long episodes every day, you watch at least ten episodes during one school week (which is more than Sherlock has in total). Even if you can’t accomplish this, you have to remember that—to our dismay—school is the top priority.
For some, there are extracurricular activities after school, or just hanging out with friends. The key here is to balance all the different things you have to accomplish during the week. And instead of using Netflix as something to avoid fulfilling your responsibility’s, use it as something to help you wind down and relieve your stress at the end of the day. Even the good things are better in moderation.
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