Sleep and binge watching: how tv series affect sleep
TV series have taken on an increasing role in entertainment over time. During this process, new dynamics have originated that have influenced and influence our behavior: ever heard of binge watching?
What is binge watching
Now that a TV series can be watched not only on television but also on mobile devices, there is no need to wait until the next week for a new episode: many platforms make complete seasons available, and episodes can be watched one after the other. This is called binge watching: the consecutive, non-stop viewing of numerous episodes of a series. On the other hand, when the platforms themselves automatically offer you the next episode each time, why resist?Last episode and then bedtime?
Often the favorite place to engage in binge watching is the bed, before falling asleep. However, this can accustom the brain to no longer consider the bed as a place to just relax, negatively impacting sleep. Here are some tips to give yourself a few small boundaries and find the right compromise between binge watching and healthy rest:- Screens project blue light, perceived by the brain as sunlight. The result is the suspension of production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing substance. There are multiple ways to filter out blue wavelengths, from options on devices or apps to glasses with special lenses
- Turn off automatic playback so you don't fall into temptation too easily
- Minimize stimuli that might distract you from watching. Without interruptions, your experience will be more fulfilling and you will feel less of a need to watch another episode
- As we have said, binge watching in the bed is inadvisable: the brain may associate it with a place where it is normal to spend hours without sleeping. Better to choose another place.
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