How I Lost 260 hours and $10,000 by watching Netflix

Post initially published on my website: mihaihlodec.com

In the last 2 years, I watched Netflix for 261 hours.

Is it too much?
For me it sounded like it, so I wanted to analyse the actual data.

Disclaimer

In my post, Netflix can be replaced with any other "vice" that takes your
time: Other streaming services, News, Youtube, Social Media, etc. All of
them are not bad when used moderately. But when they become a habit things need to change, or at least for me, they must.

Getting the data

Netflix doesn't provide the total watch time. It gives you a watch history to view each title, but not the actual duration of every show watched.
I created a script to extract all the data. The results spanked me in the face 🥴

Screenshots from results on mihaihlodec.com

The money cost

Assume a $45/hour rate.

261 hours X $45 = $11,745 in potential earnings gonezo.

That's $5,872 per year.
Don't forget to add the $60 yearly Netflix subscription (that's how much it is in my country).

TOTAL: $5,932 💸💸💸 per year.

The long-term math is even scarier. Over a decade with a 7% compound interest, this would cost me $93,628 (as per my friend Claude). That's a down payment on an expensive house or a new car, gone because I need to know what happened in Stranger Things.

The time cost

Ok, let's assume money means nothing 🤨 But I guess time should mean something?! It's not like I only lost 261 hours. It's more of what I could have done with that time. Some examples:

• 32.5 work days, assuming you work 8 hours per day
• 32.5 sleep sessions, considering you sleep 8 hours per session
• 260 gym sessions. Or let's be precise and also count the driving to/from the gym. It would get us only ~130 training sessions 🤦‍♂️
• From noob to level A2 at Spanish/French using Duolingo (it takes like 200-300 hours for that, as per my friend Claude)
• Meet with friends 65 times, assuming going out takes around 4 hours.
• Train for a marathon, considering you train 8-10 hours per week for 16-20 weeks.
• Go on a vacation for 11 days.
• Or just don't do anything for 261 hours!!! Walk outside, watch the ceiling or think.

The health tax

As if money and time impact wasn't enough... It's hard to quantify the health impact, but let's try to roughly estimate it:

• I watched 261 hours of a screen. In addition to the screen I work on, the screen I scroll on and the screen I read from. That's a lot of screen time. No good for my eyes and brain ~ 10% more strain on my eyes per year.
• I stayed 261 hours on a couch. Let's be honest, nobody is Goggins to train or stretch while watching TV. I stayed on the couch like a smashed potato and my spine and limbs took a hit. Let's say 10% more strain on my back and legs per year.
• I ate a lot more snacks. I estimate 1 bag of chips per 5 hours watched. So 52 bags of chips in two years 🤯
• I ordered more food. Instead of cooking a meal, I ordered a pizza or a burger. It works much better with 2 hours of binge watching. I'm too scared to approximate the impact of this one, leave me alone so I can cry. And of course, another hit for the wallet but let's not go there.

Drama++

Multiply all these numbers by how many people in your family watch Netflix at the same time. For me, is "just" my wife. So for my small family, the updated numbers for 2023-2024:

• 31,428 minutes (523 hours or 21 days) lost
• $23,490 lost

If that's not crazy, I am crazy.

My solution

I justify watching Netflix as my way to relax after work. "My brain is fried", "I can't do anything else". Aha, ok ok - so it's an energy issue, you little b\\\\.
Let's then match your alternatives to your energy levels:

• when your energy is high 🍏 -> work on side projects, do some cardio, go out with friends
• when your energy is so-and-so 🍊 -> do house chores, read a book, walk outside
• when your energy is low 🍅 -> sleep

Of course, will re-define the alternatives as I go, but WILL NOT fallback to
watching Netflix.

Of course no.2, I cancelled my subscription to not get tempted.</p>

Disclaimer numero duo
This isn't about demonizing Netflix (or any other streaming service) — it's
just about being honest with myself at this time. Every episode I
watch is a choice to not do something else. Sometimes that's fine. But when
it becomes my default way to spend time after work or when tired, drastic
measures are needed.