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Learnmistake – The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted our lives in many ways, not least of which is how we spend our time. With lockdowns, social distancing, and travel restrictions in place, many people found themselves spending more time indoors. One of the most common ways to pass the time has been watching TV. While binge-watching Netflix or flipping through channels may seem like a guilty pleasure, the truth is that watching TV during lockdown can actually have a number of benefits for your well-being, productivity, and mental health.
In this article, we’ll explore the surprising advantages of watching TV in lockdown, how it can be good for you, and why this often-overlooked activity can contribute to your overall sense of happiness and relaxation.
1. Escapism and Stress Relief
One of the most immediate benefits of watching TV is its ability to offer an escape from the stresses and anxieties of daily life. During the lockdown, many people experienced feelings of uncertainty, isolation, and even fear of illness. In these challenging times, watching TV can provide a necessary mental break.
Whether you’re immersing yourself in a gripping drama, a heartwarming comedy, or an exciting documentary, TV allows you to step away from the anxiety-inducing headlines and focus on something that requires little mental effort.
Example: A person might find solace in watching a lighthearted sitcom like Friends or The Office, where they can temporarily forget the worries of the world and laugh along with the characters. This kind of escapism provides relaxation and helps to reduce stress levels, allowing your mind to reset.
Moreover, watching a show or film that transports you to another world can help reduce the mental load you may be carrying. In turn, this can improve your ability to cope with real-world challenges, helping you to return to your responsibilities with a clearer and more focused mindset.
2. Learning and Personal Growth
While TV is often associated with mindless entertainment, it can also be an excellent tool for learning and personal growth. There is a wide variety of educational content available on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and traditional cable channels, which can help you expand your knowledge on a range of subjects.
Documentaries, for instance, provide an engaging way to learn about history, science, art, and culture. Shows like The Last Dance (about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls) or Planet Earth offer rich insights into human achievement and the natural world.
Example: A person might watch Cosmos by Neil deGrasse Tyson and gain a deeper understanding of the universe, astronomy, and science, sparking new intellectual interests. Similarly, watching cooking shows or home improvement series can teach you new skills or inspire you to try something new in the kitchen or around the house.
Additionally, binge-watching shows with deep or complex storylines can improve your cognitive skills. Shows like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones challenge your ability to keep track of intricate plots, character relationships, and detailed settings. This can enhance your attention span, memory, and analytical thinking, making TV a passive yet productive way to engage your brain.
3. Building Connection and Social Bonding
During lockdown, many people felt isolated from friends, family, and coworkers. However, watching TV can help foster a sense of connection with others, both near and far.
Whether it’s joining a virtual watch party with friends, discussing episodes on social media, or chatting about your favorite show with family members, TV can provide common ground for shared experiences and conversations. Watching the same show with someone you care about can create bonding moments, even if you’re not physically together.
Example: With the rise of services like Netflix Party or Teleparty, friends and family members could still watch the same shows together, even while being in different locations. This helps maintain social relationships and can create a sense of community during a time of physical distancing.
Furthermore, discussing TV shows can help people feel like they’re part of a larger cultural conversation. Whether it’s getting caught up in the latest Squid Game craze or participating in a debate about The Mandalorian, television provides a common reference point that brings people together, even in times of isolation.
4. Mental Health Benefits and Emotional Release
TV can also serve as an emotional outlet, providing relief for those who may be struggling with feelings of sadness, anxiety, or loneliness. Watching TV shows or movies that resonate with your emotions can be a way to process feelings in a safe and non-threatening environment.
For example, emotional dramas can allow people to confront their own feelings of grief, loss, or fear in a way that feels less personal but still meaningful. This vicarious emotional experience can be cathartic and help individuals feel understood or validated in their own emotions.
Example: A person feeling lonely during lockdown might watch a drama or film about characters overcoming loneliness or isolation. As they witness the characters’ growth and triumphs, they may experience a sense of hope and reassurance that they too can overcome difficult emotions.
In some cases, watching TV with emotional content can help people work through their own issues by reflecting on how they would respond to similar situations. This kind of emotional processing, even though indirect, can promote mental clarity and healing.
5. Creative Inspiration
For many people, watching TV can spark creativity and inspire new ideas. Whether it’s a beautifully shot travel documentary, a well-crafted fantasy series, or an experimental art film, TV often showcases the talents and creativity of writers, directors, and actors. This can serve as inspiration for your own creative projects or hobbies.
Example: A lockdown resident who watches a cooking competition show like MasterChef may feel inspired to start experimenting with new recipes at home. Similarly, a viewer might watch a period drama set in a historical setting and decide to start learning more about that particular time in history, or even try their hand at writing a short story.
The exposure to new ideas, themes, and creative concepts can help expand your own creative thinking and push the boundaries of what you think is possible in your own life.
6. Relaxation and Quality Rest
In an environment where many aspects of life have been disrupted, it is important to focus on self-care, and TV can be an excellent tool for relaxation. After a long day, watching a favorite show or movie can allow your body and mind to unwind, signaling that it’s time for rest.
While it’s essential to not overindulge in screen time, moderate TV watching can help you relax before bed, especially when combined with other restful activities, like drinking herbal tea or reading a book.
Example: Someone who has had a stressful day working from home might enjoy watching an episode of The Great British Bake Off before bedtime, allowing them to unwind and release any tension from the day. This kind of routine helps prepare the mind for sleep, which is vital for maintaining good mental health.
7. Strengthening Family Bonds
For families with children, watching TV together can be a way to spend quality time and engage in meaningful conversations. With so many extracurricular activities paused during the lockdown, families turned to television to create new shared experiences. Watching family-friendly movies, documentaries, or shows can provide common interests for parents and children, helping to strengthen the family unit.
Example: A family might decide to watch a movie like Toy Story or Frozen together. Afterward, they can talk about the themes, the characters, and the lessons learned, reinforcing positive family connections.
Conclusion
While it may seem counterintuitive to think of watching TV as beneficial, it is clear that this activity, when done in moderation, can offer significant positive effects on your well-being during a time of crisis like the lockdown. It can provide a much-needed escape from reality, promote learning, foster social connections, and even help improve emotional health.
The key is to balance screen time with other activities that support physical and mental well-being, such as exercise, work, and social interaction. By appreciating TV for its potential to enrich your life rather than simply using it as a filler, you can make the most of this unique time at home and turn it into an opportunity for growth, relaxation, and connection. So, don’t feel guilty about watching your favorite show—there may be more benefits than you think!
