Movies are great, but they can sometimes be a bit too long for your busy schedule. With jobs, school, kids, and other obligations, many people simply don’t have a three hour block of time to sit down and watch a movie like Matt Reeves’ The Batman or classics like The Lord of the Rings films. People might make the time for a new theatrical release where you can turn the experience into a scheduled event, but what about movies that aren’t in theaters? What about those movies that have been sitting in your backlog for the better part of a year? The following are different ways that you can fit these longer movies into your hectic, adult schedule.

• Set aside the time: If you all of a sudden find yourself wanting to watch a long movie like Avengers: Endgame, odds are you aren’t going to be able to for a while. However, planning ahead will help you make the time for the movie. No plans for date night this weekend? Pick a longer movie and snuggle up on the couch.
  
  
• Watch it by yourself: A lot of us prefer to watch a movie with company, whether it’s family, friends, or a loved one, but coordinating schedules can be next to impossible once you start factoring in three or more people. You may not know the next time your friend has a night off from work, but you know when you may have that time off.
  
  
• Watch on your phone: It may not be the perfect cinematic experience, but watching on your most mobile screen can cut out the stress of finding the perfect time to watch and replace it with the excitement of using your odd downtime. It could also let you break the watching experience up over a series of lunch breaks or bedtimes, which brings me to the final strategy. . .
  
  
• Watch it in multiple sittings: This one may take some getting used to, but can combine all previous strategies. Finding the time for a three hour movie may just be impossible for you, but maybe finding 3 one-hour chunks of time is way easier. Busy partner or friends? Lining up shorter plans might be the answer! Most movies are split into a three-act structure, which provide great pausing points. Another idea is to cut the movie in half. The mid-point of a movie tends to be an exciting action scene or an important moment for the story, which can help your viewing end on a satisfying note and pick up right when the tension is building. 

Hopefully, you can apply one or more of these tips and finally get around to that backlog that’s been slowly piling up. Make sure to check back each week here at Boss Rush Network for more helpful tips and tricks, or check out our other “How To” articles if you’re looking for specific advice. 

Featured Image: Warner Bros. Pictures