Science Says Spending Some Couch Time With the Remote Could Be Good for You

Hi. Welcome to Bloom Anywhere. I'm Gwen Moran, a writer, editor, author, and problem-solver. My goal is to share information, ideas, and resources to help you overcome obstacles, reach your goals, and find more joy in life, even when things are messy. Thanks for joining me. (If you got this from a friend, subscribe here: Bloom Anywhere.) I'd love your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Please send me an email: connect@bloomanywhere.com.

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Lately, I’ve been taking a lot of ribbing from my family. That’s not unusual. Usually, though, it’s because of my lack of culinary skills or the fact that, for some unknown reason, I can’t say “Krampus” in their presence without breaking out into peals of laughter. (Please don’t ask. I do not have an explanation.)

No, this time it’s because I’ve discovered a new guilty pleasure, and it’s occupying much of my spare time.

“The West Wing”

“HOW have you never seen this show?” several friends have said to me, incredulous. And to be fair, it’s right up my alley. Witty people working hard to deliver positive change for others. Smart banter with lots of history and political science woven in. A showrunner who graduated from my beloved alma mater, Syracuse University. It’s like Aaron Sorkin said, “Hey! Let’s make a show, and our target audience is this New Jersey sports mom, Syracuse nerd, and political junkie who spends way too much time at her desk.” And he hit it out of the park.

Seeking Refuge in a Screen

Well, for whatever reason, it never made my list of must-see TV. Now, however, it's a whole different story. I take a lunch break and watch half an episode while doing some exercise. I catch an episode in the evenings. And, if I’m being honest, I spent much of Sunday parked on the couch watching a few more.

Usually, I get antsy if I spend too much time watching television. After all, there’s work to be done. There are books to be read. There are friends to visit and plans to make. Still, whenever I got up to do something else, I was unmotivated. I told myself that I was still recovering from my hospital stint a few weeks ago. In reality, the state of the world, the high-profile acts of gun violence and anti-Semitism over the weekend, and my late mother’s recent birthday made the world feel like a little too much to take. So, I used my remote control for a bit of escapism.

Science to the Rescue

It turns out that I’m not alone. While binge-watching gets a bad rap, an August study from the University of Georgia found that it may help some of us get through stressful times. A 2022 ​Time story cited research from the University of Buffalo that found another TV-watching tic—watching the same shows or movies over and over again (looking at you, “Ted Lasso”)—can also provide a sense of comfort. Viewers may feel “transported to another world,” the story said, which can make people feel less lonely. As University of Buffalo professor of psychology Shira Gabriel, one of the researchers, said about rewatching shows, according to the piece: “It’s actually a very healthy part of maintaining a strong sense of self and sense of connection in the modern world.”

Of course, that’s not a hall pass to spend days in bed staring at the television. An inclination to do so—unless you’re recovering from a bad case of the flu or have recently climbed to Everest Base Camp—might be an indication that it’s time to see a doctor or mental health professional, especially if you’re losing sleep or showing other worrisome health signs. However, being intentional about binging a good show or watching “The Godfather” or “The Shawshank Redemption” for the 24^th time can be, according to these researchers, a way to give your brain a break and visit some familiar friends for an hour or few at a time.

What's Your Binge of Choice?

Do you revisit favorite shows or movies time and again? If so, do you find that watching them helps you in some way? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send me your thoughts in an email to connect@bloomanywhere.com.

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Things I want to share with you.

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