LIVING LIFE

I generally watch very little television. My husband and I usually find a series that seems interesting and watch one episode at a time together. I have heard the term binge watching, but never experienced it – until last week. I found myself sitting in front of the tv and enjoying many back to back episodes, while occasionally walking down the stairs to check the progress of the construction workers who were working on the kitchen.

In researching binge watching, I found articles that explained the effects of this activity. According to several sources, watching a number of shows in succession can be positive and may result in feeling relaxed while decreasing stress levels. In contrast, other articles stated that binge watching has become common behavior – one poll found that 60% of American adults who use on-demand streaming services binge watch. According to the authors, sitting in front of a tv while powering through four episodes or more often leads to the excessive snacking of unhealthy food.

From my perspective, watching many episodes in a row did nothing to decrease my stress level, but it did help the workmen to feel more relaxed, since it kept me from continually asking them questions. As far as the unhealthy food issue, I did pause the television long enough to walk down the street for ten minutes to buy some fresh pastries. I am sure I burned off at least ten percent of the calories I consumed, which in spite of normal nutritional guidelines, fits my definition of a moderately healthy snack.

Luckily, the project only took four days so my binge watching was limited. I wish that I could say the same thing about my new found love of French pastries.

Vive le croissant!

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