Breaking Up With Netflix
I believe many students can relate when I say “my relationship with Netflix has gotten a little too serious”. From “Friends” to “The Office”, the majority of my free time is spent making those quick clicks over to the treasure trove of entertainment. If this describes you, here are a few cliches to help with your breakup:
It’s not you, it’s me.
Netflix is always there and probably always will be. It never meant to hurt you but you have just gotten too close and have started to ignore other responsibilities. Balance is important when it comes to school and social life and lately binge watching has become your social life. It is time to realize that you need to spend more time focusing on your personal and academic goals. Unfortunately, Netflix cannot help you too often with either.
I think we should see other people.
The friendships you make in university can last a lifetime. Netflix may be one of those friendships but don’t be afraid to branch out. Maybe use Netflix as a way to meet other people with the same favorite show as you. Take a chance on exploring your relationships and on making new ones.
I need to focus on my studies.
A quick study break can easily turn into a few hours when watching a show. Perhaps finding a different source of stress relief for your break such as reading or drawing can keep you motivated. Setting achievable goals for your day then saving Netflix for the end of the night has helped me get back on track while still keeping up with my show.
We can still be friends.
Our relationship will never completely end. I think the key word here is moderation. I will still return to you for an end of the night wind-down, or as a reward for completing work, but it will not be the same as it was before. There may be the occasional giving in to temptation and that’s ok, it’s all part of the process towards better time management.
So, maybe next time Netflix asks if you are still watching, you can set it aside and decide to give your homework or friends a little more quality time too. 🙂
