We have all been a victim to it, sitting to look at an episode or maybe two and then suddenly it is three AM. Your eyes become heavy, your responsibilities for tomorrow are soon to come, but in a way stopping feels so much harder than just letting the episode keep going.

It’s not only the lack of self control, binge watching is just meant to be addictive. Every single time we complete an episode our brain gives us a sense of dopamine, making us want to watch an episode for longer periods of time. Most streaming platforms are very aware of this and take as much advantage of it as possible. Cliffhangers make us want answers, autoplay takes away the capability to pause, and entire seasons come out in one day so we can finish it in one sitting. Without knowing it, we’re five episodes in,  making ourselves convinced “alright, this time seriously, just one more time.”

But it’s not only about dopamine. Sometimes binge watching is a perfect and great way to escape from a long, tiring day. Watching a great show is so much easier than dealing with stress, responsibilities, and even boredom. We all get attached to characters and the story, and then out of nowhere, our problems are much less overwhelming. Additionally, whether it’s trying to avoid any spoilers or having to keep up on a show nobody wants to be the last one to find out about that big plot twist.

The problem? Time flies by before we take time to realize. We take a seat for maybe just for one episode, perhaps as a time to relax but then an episode after another and suddenly we stare at the credits roll for the whole season. Diving into the show deeply might be nice at the moment, but at the end of the day it can really mess up our sleep, kill productivity, and make us feel bad for wasting the entire day, thinking that we should have pressed pause a long time ago.

Binge watching is not all bad; some of the best shows are meant to be consumed in one day. But next time Netflix asks you, “are you still watching?” take time to think before clicking yes. Or, let’s be real… most likely one more.