The 30 minute rule saved me from binging an entire season in one night

I used to stay up till 3am glued to my laptop watching new episodes back to back, no way to stop. Last weekend I tried this trick where I set a timer for 30 minutes after each episode, then I have to do something else like fold laundry or grab a snack before the next one starts. It sounds dumb but it actually broke that hyperfocus cycle for me. The first night I only watched 4 episodes of Dungeon Meshi instead of 12 like I normally would lol. Now I'm actually remembering what happened each episode instead of zoning through them all. Has anyone else found a weird method to pace themselves through shows without burning out?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivan8223d ago

Yeah I kinda do the same thing but with a book instead of chores... I'll read a chapter of something between episodes so my brain has to switch gears for a bit. It really helps with that zombie feeling where you're just watching without actually taking anything in. Keeps me from burning out on a show way faster than if I marathon it all at once.

sethanderson23d ago

Oh man, that's such a smart way to do it! I've actually noticed this pattern everywhere in life, not just with shows. Like when I have a big project to work on, I can't just stare at it for five hours straight. I have to bounce between stuff, a quick walk, a few emails, something else, then come back. It's like our brains are built for that kind of rhythm. That's why binge-watching can leave you feeling empty, because you're not giving your brain any space to breathe and actually absorb what you just watched. I bet it's the same with books, you can't just read nonstop without burning out.