I don’t know about you, but I love to rewatch my favourite TV shows again and again.

I do get a sense of comfort from the fact that I know what is going to happen, and knowing the characters well makes it feel like I’m spending time with friends. I know it sounds strange, but I get a sense of comfort from watching TV.

I know a lot of people think TV watching is a mindless activity, and there’s much more fulfilling things to do, but for me, TV is a part of my self care routine.

I love sitting down, and watching an episode, or two, of one of my favourite TV shows. And I write fanfiction stories, too, so it’s not just about switching off my brain; I can watch for things those characters do, and get ideas for my stories.

So I get a lot of enjoyment and fulfilment in watching TV; the same as I get from reading and listening to music and going for a walk or doing some meditation.

And apparently, rewatching your favourite TV shows can actually be good for us.

Theres been various studies done, that have found rewatching your favourite shows can help you when dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation. It’s like I mentioned earlier; you feel a connection with the characters.

As you know what’s going to happen, it can make you feel relaxed and at ease, and let go of stress and worry, so it is a pause that you can take from the world.

Rewatching TV shows can also help bring back good memories and nostalgia; when I watch “Dynasty” (and yes, I mean the 1980s version) I remember my mum watching it, and I was allowed to stay up later to watch it with her, and my grandma, so it was a treat for me, as a child. As an adult, I remember how excited I was, as a child, to watch it. It brings back good memories. That time was a safe space for me.

If you like to watch TV, but feel you should be doing something more “productive” or “mindful”, just pause and tell yourself that you’re allowed to do something you enjoy. We don’t have to be productive or mindful 109% of the time.

Give yourself permission to just do nothing and watch TV for an hour. You can be really mindful and just concentrate on the TV show, or not. It doesn’t matter. You’re allowed to do nothing sometimes.

And I’m off to watch another episode of “Mission: Impossible”. This post won’t self destruct in five seconds (if you know, you know!) but your mission; should you choose to accept it; is to allow yourself time to do nothing. In the long run, you are more productive when you take time to rest.