Burnout in the Age of Binge-Watching

The binge-watch formula has consequences for those of us who love TV but struggle with mental and chronic illnesses or even sheer tiredness.

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The way we consume media has changed dramatically over the past 5 years. Long gone are the days of waiting week by week to find out what happens next on your favorite show — now streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other platforms have you covered, dropping entire 8-episode series to enjoy wherever you hang your hat.

This shift in the way we watch has created a cultural ripple, from the discourse on Twitter to good ole fashioned water-cooler talk. For every “did you catch the latest episode of The Good Place?” there’s a, “Yeah, I’ve finished the whole series! How far along are you?”

But it’s not a format that suits everyone.

For those struggling with mental health problems, chronic illnesses, processing issues, or sheer tiredness, keeping up with streaming platforms is a lot.

I’m one of many people that loves television but finds it difficult to sit through a 30-minute episode without drifting. When my anxiety disorder leaves me mentally fried on a day-to-day…