You finally sit down after a long day, ready to unwind with something good on Netflix. But instead of hitting play, you scroll. And scroll. Twenty minutes later, you’re stuck in an endless loop of trailers, categories, and “Top Picks for You.” You simply can not decide what to watch. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one caught in the Netflix spiral. Science explains a lot about why this happens, and no, it’s not because you’re indecisive.
The first culprit is decision fatigue. Psychologists say that every choice you make throughout the day; what to wear, what to eat, whether to answer that annoying email, takes a small toll on your brain. By the time you’re on the couch, your mind is so worn out that even choosing between comedy and drama feels like a major life decision.
And then there’s the sheer number of options. Studies show that when we’re faced with too many choices, we get overwhelmed and end up making no decision at all. It’s called choice overload, and Netflix is the perfect example of it. With thousands of titles to pick from, your brain doesn’t know where to start. Instead of feeling excited about all the possibilities, you end up stressed about making the “wrong” choice.
Another reason is that watching something feels like a commitment. Starting a show means investing time, and what if it ends up being boring? This fear of wasting time actually makes you delay the decision even longer. It’s like you’re subconsciously waiting for the perfect option to jump out and say, “Pick me!” Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.
So, how do you break the cycle? One trick is to limit your options. Decide on a genre or set a timer for two minutes to make your choice. Research from Columbia University found that people are happier when they pick from fewer options instead of browsing endlessly. Or, you can take the pressure off entirely and just let Netflix choose for you with the “Play Something” button.
Remember, the whole point of watching something is to relax. It’s okay if you pick something random or even stick with an old favorite. You’re not being graded on your Netflix choices.
If you’re curious about why you overthink small decisions (and maybe a few other things about yourself), take the Innerscape personality quiz and find out what makes you tick!