Alternatives to a Netflix Binge

I hit a point this summer when I realized I needed to turn my life around. Five, six, even seven-hour-straight Netflix binges. My addiction was getting out of control! I'd already seen all the seasons of Gossip Girl, Orange is the New Black, and Bates Motel, and I couldn't find an episode of Law & Order: SVU that I hadn't seen already. There were no more "good" documentaries and I had resorted to watching strange indie films and French movies with subtitles.

You know when it's time to close the laptop and get a change of scenery, so here are some great alternatives to a Netflix binge! 

• Get some fresh air - I'm no doctor, but I'm sure that lying in your dark room, ten inches away from your computer screen can't be good for your health. It's time to go outside! Try going for a bike ride, a swim, or a jog. If cardio isn't your cup of tea, maybe try a picnic in the park, a car ride with all the windows down, anything! Just go soak up some Vitamin D, but don't forget your sunscreen. 

• Exercise your brain - After you've gotten your body up and moving, maybe you could work on your brain. Summer reading isn't just for high school students. We love reading here at Little Problems! Kelsey recently wrote a book review (check it out!). I also wrote about my personal summer reading list over on my blog. If you can't find the right book to read, try reading the newspaper or a magazine. I've started reading the New York Times this summer so that I could know what's going on around the world. If you're too busy, try following news sources like @HuffPost or @NYTimes on Twitter (After you go follow @LittleProblems, of course!). Also, theSkimm, a daily e-newsletter, actually manages to make reading about the news fun!

• Go shopping - Do we ever really need an excuse to hit the mall? There are such fun trends (here and here are a couple posts our reps have put together for you!) happening right now, so go check them out! Ross, Marshalls, and J.Crew Factory are my secret weapons for staying trendy on a budget. "But I'm broke! Negative dollars in my bank account!" you might be saying… That leads me to the next point...

• Get a job - If you don't already have a job, start looking (especially if you're in college already). I spent most of my summer babysitting or writing for my school's newspaper, so I rarely had time to waste away with Netflix. It's a great way to meet new people, build a killer resume, network, and make some money to buy those new threads or whatever else you have your eye on.

• Cook/Bake - Pinterest is full of recipes just waiting to be tested out! (Again, make sure you follow Little Problems!) My latest baking obsession? French macarons. You could bake enough tasty treats to invite your friends over! Who wouldn't want to hang out when you've got delicious homemade treats for bait? If your baking skills are a compete flop, bring friends to a local cafe or a Starbucks for sweet treats (chocolate croissants are sinfully delicious!). 

• Craft - What sorority girl doesn't love crafting? Coolers, canvases, paddles, the possibilities are endless! You can find tons of inspiration on our Pinterest and Tumblr pages! We're all about the crafts here at Little Problems so send an email in with your projects and they may be featured!

• Write Snail Mail - Nothing says class like a hand written letter. It's also much more personal than an email or a text. Maybe you know someone at school out of state, have a sister who's been feeling sick, or just a friend living across town. I guarantee you will make their day with a "just thinking of you" card. Bonus points for pretty penmanship on cute stationery!

• Plan a trip - I'm all about planning a trip (sometimes I even plan imaginary trips with millionaire-level budgets). Get some of your sisters together and plan a road trip! Some of my sisters recently drove to our national headquarters in Georgia and they looked like they had a ball. It can be cross country or just a short afternoon drive to a new town. With the right company, the journey is usually more fun than the destination.

While I won't be canceling my subscription any time soon, I have really gotten a lot out of logging off every once in a while. While watching McSteamy or Don Draper for hours on end is great, there are other ways to have a great time!

- Sydney