Would you sacrifice netflix to work on side projects?
I always feel like I don't have time for my side projects!
Yet I have spent more than 20h watching netflix alone over last 30 days!
Was it worth it? Well, not sure, some of the stuff I watched wasn't even that good.
I plan to now cut netflix to 10h per month. (I do more fun activities and sports, don't worry!)
How about you, would you cut out watching videos to find more time for side projects?
(Btw, metrics were collected with https://watchlimits.com/ - free chrome extension)
Great way to visualize the cost of procrastination
I use Netflix on downtime when I feel stupid or tired, essentially useless for any work, so no competition there. Also, maybe you want such projects working on which would make Netflix flat and pale in comparison.
I guess the good type of alternative if you are tired is going to bed earlier or doing something more relaxing like meditation, relaxing to calm music, etc.
For me, meditation is work and I do it first thing in the morning. You need a strong fresh mind to get a full benefit.
I stopped fighting with Netflix's urges after I realized it is like Elizabethan theatre in medieval England, you connect to universal human experiences via stories and imagination.
Netflix is a funny thing. It feels relaxing but it isn’t, it is stimulating. Probably 30m work + 30 meditation is easier than 1h netflix on your brain.
But netflix is of course addictive. (and like most big tech, it is manipulative - the algorithmic interface and the design of the dramas to cliffhang every episode keeps you hooked)
I had the same realization. Sometimes what we need is relaxation, but we confuse it with entertainment. It's not as restful as one would think! Yup, addictive for sure unless you watch some really bad series :).
I think that's a rhetorical question, isn't it? ;)
If you consider that with an average life expectancy of 79 years you have (only) 692,040 hours at your disposal, but you also have to factor out the time you spend sleeping, then every hour you spend passively watching a series is wasted time in my opinion.
Not all the time you have great energy though and relaxing is good at times. E.g. I tend to to lots of passive activities if I don't feel well.
Also, I'm a woman, healthy and sporty so I expect to live to 100+ :). Maybe that will give me enough time to watch some series sometimes :D.