The 3 Best Ways to Spend Your Time Watching TV

Television is the usual go-to for most, and while it’s completely fine to use it in order to clear our heads, it is important that we are all conscious of the content that we are consuming. Everyone needs to escape, especially now. As life appears to be mundane, people begin to struggle with how to spend their time and mitigate their sanity.

Not all content is appropriate for us when we’re angry, or sad, or both. Recognizing that we aren’t at our best is the first step to feeling better. The second step is to devote our minds to content that rewires our brains to be happy.

There is no shame in admitting that inner turmoil is high, that we are all more susceptible to stress, and that we are struggling to find ways to keep ourselves both entertained and happy. This list is a reminder that both are a choice and both are quick steps to starting or rekindling a routine that enables the joy that we all desire, particularly when we are stressed.

I have a life hacks calendar for 2020. Every day provides me with an obscure fact that can provide either insight or improvement for my daily routine. One of those entries stated that watching your favorite movies when you are anxious helps curb anxiety. It makes a lot of sense.

For one, human beings crave control. If people find control slipping away from them the logical or typical reaction is to find a way to get some of that control back. Routines, for example, are one of the ways in which humans ready themselves for the chaos of life. Understanding what you can control is a life long journey, but it starts and ends with oneself.

Consider this: for every moment you spend thinking or dwelling on something that makes you anxious, the same amount of time or a greater amount of time could be spent thinking or dwelling on something that calms you, makes you laugh, or makes you happy. That’s what your favorite tv shows and movies are for. Who cares if you’ve watched The Office a million times already, if it makes you happen and you’re feeling a little stressed or a little down, make it a million and one.

2. Watch Something Funny

Being happy is a choice determined by routine. Routines can either make us feel empowered or make us feel disempowered. Routines either remind us to be grateful, happy, humble, hungry, and earnest or they make us feel anxious, fearful, frustrated, and less-than. Yes, there’s a whole laundry list of things out in the world that could potentially bring us down, but there’s also an equal or greater amount of things out there that can teach us to remember to smile.

Making a habit to watch content that makes you laugh is not only entertaining, but it’s great for your mental and physical health. Yes, physical health because a lack of laughter leads to stress, and stress is stored in the body through various aches and ailments like back pain, stomach cramps, and stiff joints. Both scripted comedies and stand-up specials are a great way to condition yourself for more laughter and less stress.

3. Watch Something Upbeat, Colorful, or Uplifting

This is a bit different from number #2 because this doesn’t necessarily have to be a comedy. Upbeat can consist of anything from music videos, to documentaries, informative YouTube channels, and even dramas. Here is some of my favorite content in this category:

Like the food we eat, and the things we say to ourselves, content consumption matters. Remember to make the choice to switch your brain over to something happy or funny when you need it. You always have that choice.

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