You Have To Try These Netflix Alternatives
Don’t let technology and screens suck your productive and energizing “me-time”
Binge-watching is a time and energy-sucking black hole on earth.
It’s been almost a year since I’ve limited my indulgence, and I’m feeling much better. Lighter even.
I don’t have the constant low-grade anxiety about what I’m missing out on by not watching the latest season of “fill-in-the-blank”(I don’t know what’s popular these days).
Instead, I have more time to do things that are actually enjoyable, productive, energizing, and good for my mental health.
If you’re still in the binge-watching trap, I get it. It’s hard to break out of the habit.
But trust me, it’s worth it.
You deserve better things in life than wasting time on a zero ROI (return on investment) activity.
“The only reason people binge-watch shows is they don’t have an alternative pastime.”
I write this article to give you healthy alternatives to do this weekend that don’t involve Netflix.
I bet you won’t have time to binge-watch.
And no, I won’t talk about going out clubbing or hitting up a bar (although those can be fun too).
Video Call a Long Distance Friend
On a lazy weekend, I was feeling restless. I had just woken up at 11:00 am after binge-watching the latest trending Netflix show until 4:00 am.
Idly I was scrolling through social media, looking for something to distract me.
That’s when I saw it — a post from my college friend, who now lived on the other side of my world.
We hadn’t been in touch for a decade. He was inviting anyone free to join him for a video call.
I decided to say some “Hi’s” and “how do you do” kind of talk and hang up in 5–10 minutes.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made for my social and mental health. We talked for hours, catching up on all the things that had happened since we last spoke.
It was endearing to learn that “friendship isn’t dependent on distance, time, and space.”
Long-distance and long-time no see relationships aren’t awkward if you’re open to an honest conversation(without judging one another).
Sometimes, the best way to spend your time is to rekindle old friendships.
Your mental and social health will thank you!
Create a Mood Playlist
I was listening to my all-time favorite song, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. As soon as the opening notes started playing, I was instantly in a better mood.
I wanted to listen to similar songs to elongate my cheerful mood.
Sadly, I couldn’t find one.
That’s when I decided to spend my weekend curating songs according to moods, occasion, and time.
It turned out to be oddly therapeutic.
The necessity became the mother of creative activity.
The following effect was mindblowing — whenever I felt low, three minutes and forty-eight seconds of “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves picked me back up again.
Music has been proved to lift your spirits and ward off feelings of despair. It can enhance blood flow like statins, lower cortisol levels, and alleviate pain.
Preoperative music listening has been shown to improve postoperative outcomes.
Try creating your own mood playlist if you’re looking for something fun and productive to do this weekend.
You never know when it might come in handy.
The One Activity With Multiple Benefits
Bowling is one of the most popular sports in Canada. I didn’t know that people were crazy about this game.
Most bowling arenas are booked one-two month in advance for the weekends.
So, I was curious to find out.
Luckily, I found an available slot on someone’s last-minute cancellations. They charged me around $25 for one game.
Fun is an underrated word!
According to a study:
“Bowling lowers your risk of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes.
It enhances bone density, improves circulation, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and aids your body in better utilizing oxygen in your blood.”
The best part about this sport is that you can make new friends while playing.
Plus, you’re exercising your body without engaging in any stereotypical physical workout.
Bowling (or any sport) will surely uplift your physical, mental, emotional, and psychological health.
Do You Know How to Cook
Learning to cook is the smartest thing you can do on the weekend instead of binge-watching Netflix. Cooking is a life-saving skill most people don’t realize.
I’m not saying that Netflix is bad. But if it can’t teach you how to make a delicious meal, it’s worthless.
Cooking is not difficult, and it’s fun once you get the hang of it. Trust me, I know from experience.
I used to be the type of person who would order takeout every night because I was lazy enough to cook. But, the truth was I didn’t know how to cook.
Learning to cook is the best gift I’ve given myself.
Now I can make anything from scratch. I mean ANYTHING.
When you cook, you control the ingredients. By cooking for your family, you can ensure they consume healthy meals.
This can improve your health, energy, weight, mood, sleep, and stress resilience.
And cooking is also a lot cheaper than eating out all the time.
So if you’re looking for something productive to do this weekend, try learning how to cook. You won’t regret it.
The World *NEEDS* You
It was a Saturday morning, and I was lying in bed in my Simpsons boxers, scrolling through Twitter.
I had no plans and didn’t feel like doing anything in particular.
That’s when my friend dropped by uninvited, begging me to go with him to a local animal shelter in a community. They were looking for volunteers to walk the dogs.
I knew that I had nothing better to do, so I decided to go.
It turns out I had one of the best experiences in the world. The warmth of a furry animal’s love is unmatched.
It’s amazing how something so simple can make such a big difference to your dopamine levels.
Now, every time I find myself with some free time on my hands, I try to find a way to give back to my community.
Whether it’s volunteering at a local event or planting flowers in the neighborhood, I know that community service is always the smartest choice.
According to Mayoclinic:
“Acts of kindness boosts self-esteem, compassion, and mood. It lowers blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone that affects stress. Giving in a balanced approach makes people healthier and longer-lived.”
You don’t HAVE to believe me. Do it once and trust YOUR experience.
Nothing Can Replace This Therapy
That’s me! ( Can you spot another person in this picture? )
One of the best things about living on planet Earth is that we have access to some of the most beautiful places in the world.
And yet, so many of us choose to spend our time indoors, staring at screens all day.
If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend that doesn’t involve Netflix, try getting in touch with nature.
There are so many different ways to do this.
You could go for a hike in the woods, kayak down a river, or simply sit in the park and read a book.
The options are endless.
And nature has a way of resetting your mind and making you feel more connected to the world.
Make Art
Those are my canvas creations!
I’m not a very expressive person, but I know that making art is good for the soul.
There are so many different ways to express yourself through art. You could paint, draw, sculpt, or even just doodle in a notebook.
It doesn’t matter how good you are. The important thing is that you’re having fun and expressing yourself.
Making art is a great way to relax and de-stress. And it’s also a great way to connect with your inner child.
So, add some art and colors to your life this weekend. You might be surprised at how meditative it is.
Did you find my letter motivating?
If yes, I have 2 requests:
Consider sharing this letter with your friends and family.
Thanks once again!
See ya next time!
Lots of love,
Darshak