12 shows to binge-watch for Tired Moms

Are you looking for shows to binge-watch? You’re up in the middle of the night with a baby who wants to party, or you finally have some time to yourself during the day and want to start a new show. You scroll through Netflix or Prime, but there are so many choices! By the time you narrow it down the baby has fallen back asleep or that precious block of time during the day has disappeared. Your time is valuable, you can’t waste it searching the vast categories on Netflix. Let me help find you a binge-able show!

So these shows might not be the best, award-winning shows, if you’re looking for upper brow taste, keep scrolling. You’re not going to learn anything of value from these picks. I have other favorite shows but there’s a difference between your favorite shows and binge-able shows. These are my requirements:

It has to be short. This is a common theme in all of my picks. It makes me anxious to start a new show and see that it has 12 seasons. I already feel behind. I’m behind on most other things in life anyway, now I have to add this show to it too? Thank you, next.

It has to be an escape. A lot of people watch This is Us and love it, but watching a drama that deals with such real-life situations that may even be happening to me or people I know, is not my idea of a good time. I want to avoid and leave my real life for a little bit.

You have to be hooked from the first episode. I am busy and tired. I don’t have the patience for those shows that people insist, “if you can get through the first 3 episodes, you’ll love it.” Ain’t no one got time for that.

1. DEAF U (Netflix)

This show meets and then exceeds all of our criteria. At just 8 episodes of less than 30 minutes each, instead of wondering when the finale finally is, you’ll want more. Then you’ll end up searching for them all on social media and following them on Youtube and Instagram. Just me?

2. Lucifer (Fox and Netflix)

Lucifer is the real devil but has come to Los Angeles and is now a part-time detective solving crimes. If that is not escapism television, then I don’t know what is! This has several seasons, but what I love about it is that in every episode there’s a crime, and by the end they solve it. There’s still a storyline that runs through the whole season, but you still feel like something is resolved at the end of the episode. That makes it very easy to binge-watch, especially at 3 am with a nursing baby.

3. Hoarders (Hulu, netflix)

4. Haunting of hill house/Haunting of bly manor (netflix)

There are 2 seasons of 10 episodes. Each season features some of the same actors but as a different character in a different story. This show is what American Horror Story WANTS to be. I stayed up late one night to finish this and I NEVER stay up late because my kids wake up with the sun. I HAD to finish it. So good.

5. Criminal minds

Ok, I know what you’re thinking. “Doesn’t Criminal Minds have like 30 seasons? I can’t commit to that!” I know. Hear me out. There are actually 15 seasons but every episode is its own story. There are actually very few storylines that bleed from one episode to another, so you don’t have to watch in order. It’s easy to jump back and forth depending on what’s available on Netflix or Hulu you don’t feel like you’re missing anything.

6. dead to me

This show is just so fun. It’s a dark comedy that is so crazy unbelievable, but at the same time deals with things like grief, loss, and forgiveness in such a funny and relatable way. There are 2 seasons of this show with 10 episodes each. Bonus: it says “fuck” so much it becomes therapeutic.

7. Love is blind

You guys. It’s a dating show like The Bachelor but THEY DON’T SEE EACH OTHER. And then they get engaged! The first time they see each other is when THEY GET MARRIED! Some of the couples are still together. I watched after this was all done, because I’m late to every trend, but it was still fun to watch because I was guessing which ones made it and which ones didn’t. It’s 11 episodes including a messy reunion show so it’s an easy watch.

8. OUtmatched (Hulu)

This show wasn’t renewed for a second season so I wasn’t sure if I should put it on this list or not. I decided to anyway because I really love it. Think of it as a mini-series and since it was a sitcom, there’s no big mystery that you’ll never find out. This show is described as a “blue-collar family struggles to raise 4 kids-who just happen to be certified geniuses.” It’s an original and creative concept, and I thought it was hilarious because this is probably exactly how I’d parent if one of our children turned out to be geniuses.

9. master chef

You will start this show thinking that there’s no way you’re going to get into a cooking show. If it’s better than Dino Nuggets for the 4th night in a row it’s downright gourmet. You will be on episode 5 yelling at Carol because she’s better than that creme brulee she tried to pass off! GET IT TOGETHER, CAROL!

10. Nightwatch

This is the only show on the list that my husband and I binge-watch together. We are both equally invested in these people. It’s like Cops if Cops were better edited and had individual on-camera interviews. I can’t say it makes me want to visit New Orleans, but it does reiterate how amazing paramedics and emergency workers are!

11. Atypical (Netflix)

Atypical does an excellent job accurately portraying autistic and queer people while making you laugh and root for these characters. I love how they depict realistic marriage and parenting issues too.

12. Only murders in the building

This is the newest show on the list. I tend to stick to older “tried and true” shows, but someone recommended this to me and I’m so glad I started it. This is so fun and it’s the trio I never knew I needed. Disclaimer: a lot of F-bombs, watch without kids or just with kids who can’t talk yet.

more binge-able shows

For more self-care advice check out my other blog posts: EASY AND PRACTICAL SELF CARE FOR MOMS & WHAT TO DO WHEN THE WORLD FEELS TOO HEAVY

Do you have any other shows that should be added to the list? Or, maybe some crucial requirements for a binge-able show that I’m missing? Comment and let me know!