Set a time limit before you start. The golden rule is to stop watching halfway through an episode.
By Toibah Kirmani
Sitting on the couch with some munchies and watching your favourite shows, episode after episode, without a pause, may seem like a great stress buster. You feel pleased as your brain produces dopamine (the happy hormone), and the binge-watching continues.
But did you know that binge-watching can impact your health in ways that you may not anticipate? Here are some of health hazards that researchers have touched upon:
Does this mean that you have to give up on your much-loved online series? Not necessarily! It’s prudent to set a time limit before you start. If you want to limit yourself to one or two episodes in a sitting, the golden rule is to stop watching halfway through an episode. The ending is usually filled with incentives that encourage you to watch the next episode. Happy watching!
(Medically reviewed by Dr Sabba Mehmood, Physician and WHO certified Infodemic Manager, India.)
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