Lately, I have caught myself in a habit of rewatching the same television shows rather than finding new shows to explore. I wondered if there was something to this – that maybe others might be doing the same thing. So, I entered this behavior in Google and there it was…. comfort viewing or comfort watching. This makes so much sense since a feeling of comfort is what I experience when watching the same episodes over and over.
Unfortunately, there is not much research on this practice, but mental health experts seem to agree that there are benefits to watching familiar shows. It could be described as a form of self-care. Watching a new show can take cognitive effort with learning new characters and following plot lines. It might also cause some anxiety from not knowing what is going to happen or how it will end. With shows that have been watched numerous times, there is no pressure or extra thought needed since everything is already known. Maybe it is a show that reminds someone of good times in their lives. They may even enjoy and can relate to the characters and feel like they are spending time with old friends.
According to an article written by Sanjana Gupta from verywellmind.com, the benefits of rewatching favorite shows include:
- Reduces cognitive load: rewatching a show gives our mind a break when we are exhausted.
- Relieves stress and anxiety: familiar storylines can feel grounding when life feels unpredictable. It can give us a sense of control.
- Helps with emotional regulation: a comforting rewatch can help us regulate. It can give us a sense of hope and comfort in our own lives.
- Combats decision fatigue: decisions can be exhausting. Watching something familiar helps us avoid making more decisions on what to watch.
- Boosts mood: Seeing funny or heartwarming moments provides our brains with a dopamine boost and cheers us up.
- Creates a sense of belonging: we might feel a strong connection to the characters which can be comforting.
- Alleviates boredom and loneliness: experiencing nostalgia while rewatching a show can fight boredom and even homesickness.
It is great to find out that my comfort viewing is something positive. But I did find a cautionary note about this practice. If rewatching familiar shows starts bringing the viewer down or keeps the viewer from living their life – like getting out, doing new things, spending time with others – then it might be time to pause and reach out to a trusted friend or maybe a therapist to talk about anything that might be bothering them.
So, for now, I will continue to rewatch episodes of Expedition Unknown, Mysteries at the Museum, and American Pickers and use that as part of my self-care. But I do have two questions: do you also like to rewatch shows and if so, which ones do you like to rewatch?
Resources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/rewatching-tv-shows-can-support-mental-health-11922199
https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/02/20/why-many-of-us-have-comfort-shows
Author: Cheri Burcham is responsible for health and family programming in the counties of Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby and other parts of east central Illinois as needed. Cheri’s emphasis is on healthy lifestyles throughout the life span which include family relationships, communication, caregiving, stress management and human development including early childhood and healthy aging. Her passion is to help people to be their best selves and to promote a healthier, independent older population. When Cheri is not engaged in Extension work, she can be found raising Monarch butterflies and spreading the word about their amazing life cycles and migration to anyone who will listen!