Unpopular opinion: I was watching shows all wrong for years

It hit me last Tuesday. I was three seasons deep into a show everyone said was great, but I was just staring at my phone, barely following it. My wife asked me a simple question about a main character's job and I had no clue. The whole thing was just background noise. I realized I've been 'binging' by putting on six episodes in a row while I do chores or scroll, not actually watching. I was treating shows like a podcast. Now I'm trying to just watch one episode at a time, with the lights off and my phone in another room. It feels weird, but I'm actually remembering plot points. Does anyone else have to fight the urge to multitask while watching something?

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ivan5225mo ago

Eight episodes of "The Wire" while meal prepping on a Sunday is the only way I got through that show, and I remember every detail. Maybe your brain just needs time to get used to it, like training a muscle. I've had whole conversations with @karen_martin where neither of us looked up from our phones and we both knew exactly what happened in the episode. Half the shows I watch are barely worth full attention anyway, so multitasking feels like the smart play.

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karen_martin6mo ago

Honestly, the real trick is picking shows that actually deserve your full attention. So much stuff is just filler content meant to be half-watched while you fold laundry. Save the phone-in-another-room effort for the rare show that's actually good enough for it.

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andrewf236mo ago

Totally called out my laundry-folding viewing habits... I've given my full attention to some real stinkers that didn't deserve it.

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