THE LIBERATION I DIDN’T KNOW I NEEDED

-

 

Pleasant surprise -
Photo by Alena Darmel: https://www.pexels.com

A couple of weeks ago, I was suddenly in the mood to watch Emily in Paris again. The last time I had watched it was during Season 2, and since then, I had taken a long break from subscribing to Netflix and HBO Asia. As I scrolled through my options, it hit me. I hadn’t watched any TV shows for a year and a half.

That realization made me reflect on my journey with television: how it evolved, how I let it go, and how I eventually found my way back to it, but this time, with a different mindset.

The Decision to Unsubscribe

Around 1.5 years ago, I decided to cancel my subscriptions. At the time, my life was packed between work and personal commitments that made me barely have time to sit down and watch anything else on TV. And even if I had time, I’d rather watch my favorite game, badminton, when there were tournaments. So, I guess…paying for something I rarely used definitely felt like a waste of money.

But years before that, I had already said goodbye to cable TV. I remember feeling restricted to sitting in the living room to have some entertainment on TV. And since I spent most of the time working in my office, I only spent a little time watching TV when I was at home.

Therefore, online streaming felt like a great solution. It was flexible and accessible. I could watch from my phone, anytime, anywhere.

And then, I took the leap. I canceled it all. And surprisingly, it felt amazing.

Also read: When Life Calls for a Change, Just Trust the Unknown

A Sense of Freedom

Letting go of my subscription felt like an elephant finally freed from its chains. I didn’t have to keep up with the latest episodes (which turns out there was no FOMO as I didn’t mind at all). Also, I didn’t waste my time scrolling endlessly for something new to watch. 

There was no pressure, no attachment, no wasted hours trying to decide what to watch next. Instead, I discovered a new sense of control over my time. I chose what to feed my eyes, ears, and mind. And you know what? There are so many free sources of entertainment that work just as well (if not better) and support my mental well-being.

I started listening to more podcasts and audiobooks. My badminton schedule also became a priority. And when I wanted some fun, I turned to my favorite Hallmark mystery movies and Detective Conan episodes on YouTube. Or I turned to Running Man for a good laugh when I needed it. Now, my entertainment habits became intentional, aligning with what truly made me happy.

The Return to Streaming On My Terms

Then, after all this time, I felt like taking a break, unwinding, and diving into some lighthearted TV again. So, I re-subscribed. And oh, it felt like a fresh breeze sweeping over me. I had forgotten how relaxing it was to kick back and watch a good show.

Also read: Dance Your Way and Break Free from Food Shame

Reuniting with Emily in Paris was like catching up with an old friend. Once I finished Season 4, I rewatched Glamorous and Fuller House, and it all felt fresh, as if I was watching them for the first time. I also checked out new movies from Lindsay Lohan and Vanessa Hudgens. Two of their movies, to be exact, and they gave me a refreshing dose of nostalgia.

But after endless scrolling, I found myself losing interest in new series. I realized I wasn’t really looking for something new. I just needed a temporary escape. And that’s when I knew I was done for now.

The Lesson: Balance and Intentionality

This experience taught me an important lesson about balance. Entertainment, like anything else in life, should be consumed with intention. It’s not about cutting off TV entirely or binge-watching endlessly, it’s about knowing when to step away and when to return.

Now, I feel empowered. I’ll subscribe when I want to, enjoy my shows, and cancel when I’m done. It’s that simple. No guilt, no FOMO, just me, making mindful choices about how I spend my time.

So, if you’ve ever felt trapped in the cycle of endless content, maybe it’s time to take a break. You might just discover a newfound sense of freedom, just like I did.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ONE ATOMIC HABIT THAT TRANSFORMED MY LIFE THIS YEAR

-
Image
  One atomic habit Do you practice self-reflection at the end of the year? I do, and it’s something I really enjoy. For the past four years, I’ve been religiously making time to look back on everything that happened in that year—the highs, the lows, and the small wins worth celebrating. It’s my way of appreciating myself and the journey I’ve been on. As I was going through my journal this year, I noticed something interesting. There was one thing I never wrote about. Maybe because it wasn’t something that bothered me a lot to the point where I needed to complain in my journal. However, while trying to look and think back about my small win this year, I realize that it’s worth recognizing as a valuable part of my life journey. It was a small habit—an “atomic habit” to borrow James Clear ’s term—that worked wonders for me. A small win that deserves appreciation: my writing practice. How It Started For the longest time, I always wanted to write a blog. And I sort of did—except I never...
Read more

IS MARRIAGE FOR EVERYONE?

-
Image
Gue sangat bersyukur hidup di zaman sekarang di mana keran informasi dan pengetahuan mengalir deras terbuka melalui berbagai platform. In a way, kita jadi teredukasi, jadi belajar, jadi berpikir, dan mengundang pemikiran lebih jauh melalui pertanyaan semisal “Is marriage for everyone?” Lalu lanjut dengan pertanyaan, "Can we say no? But why does it sound compulsory?" Masa-masa keemasan becanda ala “Menikah itu enaknya 10% doang. Sisanya uenak banget” sepertinya sudah kehilangan pamornya untuk digunakan sebagai flexing stage level hidup seseorang yang merasa sudah lebih tinggi daripada lawan bicaranya yang baik secara ngerti atau ga ngerti sebenarnya sedang gaslighting . Walaupun begitu, di tengah maraknya topik perselingkuhan baik dalam cerita fiksi layar kaca maupun thread trending topik yang diedarkan berdasarkan kisah nyata, institusi suci ini tetap berada pada kedudukan yang berada jauh di pedestal sana. Tetap dikejar dan diinginkan banyak orang. Akan tetapi, apa benar en...
Read more

WHY LEAVING MY 9-5 JOB WAS THE BEST DECISION FOR PEACE AND SUCCESS

-
Image
Happy Job Happy Life -  Photo by Ivan Samkov: https://www.pexels.com The city is finally buzzing with life again. As the new year’s holiday ends, streets hum with activity—cars zipping by and people hurriedly rushing to their daily grind.  And here I am, sitting on the porch, enjoying my slow morning and letting my thoughts drift.  Slowly, I feel an immense sense of gratitude for the life I’ve chosen. Forever I will always be grateful to have been guided to leave my 9-5 job. Since that day, my life has tremendously changed and it gets better every day.  After raining the whole day yesterday, nature granted us with wonders today. The gentle chirping of birds filled the crisp morning air. Flocks of birds gracefully take to the sky, the vibrant orange hues of dawn dissolving into soft blues as the day unfolded.  Also read: Don't Rush into New Year's Resolution - Do This First ‘What a peaceful morning,’ I thought to myself. A gentle breeze played on my face, and I f...
Read more