DARIEN, IL – When Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently remarked that he considers sleep to be a competitor for his streaming entertainment service, he had a valid point. Netflix, which is approaching 100 million subscriber members, covets the 7 billion people worldwide who “subscribe” to sleep.

However, Netflix may have overreacted by tweeting that, “Sleep is my greatest enemy.” Does sleep really belong in the same company with scoundrels and villains like Frank Underwood from “House of Cards”?

While Netflix and sleep may never be allies, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine believes that they can coexist peaceably. To help broker a truce, the AASM is urging subscribers of Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime Instant Video and other streaming services to binge-watch responsibly.

“You can stream your favorite shows and movies without sacrificing the sleep you need each night,” said AASM President Dr. Ronald Chervin. “Responsible binge-watching is the way to balance your personal entertainment with your health and well-being.”

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adults should sleep 7 or more hours per night. Binge-watchers who fail to put limits on their video streaming will suffer the consequences of insufficient sleep. School and work performance will suffer as mood and cognitive abilities deteriorate, and the risk of being in a workplace accident or drowsy driving crash will increase due to excessive sleepiness.

It is possible to get healthy sleep and satisfy your craving to watch the latest video sensations by binge-watching responsibly:

  • Set an episode limit each night before you begin watching
  • Take a break between each episode to get out of the “auto-play” loop
  • Download episodes on your smartphone to control how many you watch at once
  • Schedule time on the weekend to catch up on your favorite shows
  • To minimize the alerting effects of brightly lit screens at night, use one of the apps for your computer, tablet and smartphone that filters blue light after sunset
  • Stream videos to your TV instead of your mobile device at night to reduce exposure to brightly lit, handheld screens
  • Avoid using mobile devices while in bed
  • Turn off all screens at least a half-hour before your bedtime

“There are far more than 13 reasons why sleep is the new black,” said Chervin. “Sleep is essential for health and safety, and healthy sleep enables you to maximize the enjoyment of your entertainment.”

CONTACT: Matt Kasik, L.C. Williams & Associates, 312-565-4611, mkasik@lcwa.com

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Established in 1975, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) improves sleep health and promotes high quality, patient-centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards. The AASM has a combined membership of 10,000 accredited member sleep centers and individual members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals. For more information about sleep and sleep disorders, including a directory of AASM-accredited member sleep centers, visit www.sleepeducation.org.