Binging on box sets can save your relationship

It's official, watching television works wonders for your relationship.
Aasma Day - new headshot pixAasma Day - new headshot pix
Aasma Day - new headshot pix

By this, I do actually mean watching TV together rather than holed away in separate rooms watching it alone… although I’m sure some people will swear this makes for a much more successful coupling.

It seems the secret to a happy marriage isn’t telling your partner how much you love them, showering them with impromptu gifts or going out on regular dates.

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According to a recent study, couples who watch telly together are more likely to stay together. Scientists say watching movies and box sets together enhances your relationship by improving quality and commitment.

It seems the more often a couple spend together in front of the box, the higher they rate their partnership.

Who knew it was that simple?

This week, Hubby and I will notch up 16 years of marriage (we got married in the Year 2000 to make remembering easy).

Yes, I know, I would have got less for murder. But as comedian Rita Rudner quipped: “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

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Despite the fact that we’ve been married for around 5,840 days or 140,160 hours and shared around 12,000 meals together, I was outraged to find no traditional anniversary gifts theme exists for 16 years.

We’ve celebrated our paper anniversary, cotton, wood, steel, silk, lace and ivory. But it seems 16 years of marriage isn’t deemed important enough to warrant its own theme and gift.

After achieving the heady heights of Crystal at 15 years, you have to wait another FIVE years before getting to your China Anniversary at 20 years. It appears the period in between doesn’t count.

Mind you, after reading the research on the miraculous effect telly watching has on marriages, maybe I should buy Hubby a box set or a subscription to 
Netflix.

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Although the findings seem daft on the surface, I can’t help thinking they hold a kernel of truth.

After all, what’s nicer than snuggling up on the sofa with your other half and binging on box sets or watching a film, a gripping drama or some light reality telly together?

I don’t like watching TV alone and have never understood couples who spend their evenings watching separate TVs in different rooms.

Aside from the fact I need someone to explain complicated plot twists or nudge me if I start drifting off, much of the pleasure of watching something entertaining is sharing it with someone else.

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Whether it’s guffawing at a comedy together, speculating on the murderer in a whodunnit or debating the merits and failings of X Factor contestants, shared telly time can be a true bonding 
experience.

The arrival of our children increased the focus of quality television time together for Hubby and I.

Too shattered, skint and bereft of babysitters to even think about going out, we binged on box sets before the little ones woke up for a feed.

Since then, things like Sky box sets and Netflix have made it even easier to get your viewing fix.

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As well as discovering numerous addictive series such as Breaking Bad, Walking Dead and Homeland, we’ve also re-discovered the joys of older box sets and taken to watching an episode of golden oldies in bed.

We’ve recently worked our way through series including Only Fools and Horses, Friends, Father Ted, Blackadder, Fawlty Towers and Red Dwarf.

Speaking of marriage and relationships, the internet almost broke with the news that Hollywood’s hottest couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are to 
divorce.

The nation is in mourning. There’s still people reeling from when Brad Pitt split from Jennifer Aniston 12 years ago. How is the world going to cope?

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Madame Tussaud’s splitting up of the wax figures of “Brangelina” seemed particularly poignant.

Maybe if Brad and Angelina had spent more quality time watching TV together, their marriage would have survived.

Although somehow I don’t think Friends box sets would have been on their viewing list....

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