I do not have a cable. It’s not because I can’t afford it, I can, I just think it’s stupid. You pay $30-$50 a month for 500 channels and for me, that’s too much. I don’t watch 90% of the channels and half the time there is nothing on. Like a sensible human who wants to save money, I chose to get Netflix instead. Sixty percent of the shows and movies I watch are on there and the rest I can just download.
In December 2012, when I moved into my new place, I reinstated my Netflix account after a year and told myself that this time… I would not let Netflix become a problem. Last time I had Netflix, it seriously did become somewhat of an addiction. I would stream constantly. I streamed during my lunch break at work. I watched Netflix until 3 in the morning.It was kind of pathetic. I told myself that this time it would be different. I would not choose Netflix over going out with friends. I would not let Netflix cut into my exercise routine. I would not let Netflix take over my life. Despite my best efforts, I was wrong and my Netflix addiction has returned with a fiery vengeance somehow worse than the last time, which bewilders me because this time around, I have friends, I have an exercise routine, I have a job that I work at 45-50 hours a week, and I HAVE TO SLEEP. Last time I did not, and I kind of understood the Netflix addiction. This time… well, there is no reason for me to be this addicted. I shouldn’t be, but I am.
I realized the extent of my addiction when I watched 8 seasons of Supernatural in less than a month and a half. This is 8 years of television in 1 month, EIGHT YEARS IN 41 DAYS. To put it more accurately, this show consists of 161 episodes, all of which are roughly an hour long. I have spent 161 hours watching Supernatural, which adds up to around 7 straight days, ONE WEEK, of Supernatural without a break to sleep, eat, or use the bathroom, which means I have spent 17% of my LIFE IN THE LAST 41 DAYS recently watching Supernatural. Add in the occasional episode of Dawson’s Creek, Being Human, and American Horror Story, and the number probably goes up to like 20% of my life. This is unbelievable. This is a problem. When I look at these numbers, I am horrified because I don’t feel like it’s been that much. I’ve been working full time, NOT watching Netflix at work, going out with friends at least 2 nights a week, and attempting to do pilates every other day. Yet… 1/5 of my time as been spent watching Supernatural. I know this is too much.
When I think about it though… the Netflix addiction is very clear. I never get on social networks anymore because I am watching Netflix. This blog is woefully not updated and Facebook has become a lunch break only kind of thing. My pilates routine in the last 2-3 weeks has fallen from 3-4 days a week to 1-2 days a week. I have not really gone outside. Last Saturday, I stayed in to watch Supernatural when it was snowing. I get home from work, make dinner, turn on Netflix and watch it from roughly 5:30 pm to midnight. Same thing every day. It is truly a problem.
If I canceled it, I would have no entertainment except the internet and I would fear viruses from my downloading of television shows. Netflix is my lifeline to pure sloth and relaxation. Netflix is my escape. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate Netflix and I know I am addicted. I can’t stop. I don’t know how to quit Netflix. I don’t know if I want to.