Refreshing Your Preferred Television Series Elicits Such Pleasure
Kicking Back on the Couch:
Ending a long day with a cozy spot on the couch might lead you to ponder if you'll dive into a new show or revisit an old favorite. Why bother experimenting with the latest medical drama when you can lose yourself in the endless reruns of The Office, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, The Golden Girls, or Schitt's Creek (just to name a few)? It turns out, you're not alone. Many of us find comfort in repeatedly watching the same series, especially when stressed or emotionally drained.
"Just like kids begging for the same bedtime story each night or pressing play on the same theme song over and over again, a lot of us find solace in rewatching TV shows," shares Kate Jansen, PhD, clinical psychologist and associate professor of behavioral sciences at Midwestern University Glendale. "We may know that new shows or recommended series await, but we keep coming back to our beloved series."
We caught up with four experts to uncover the reasoning behind this comforting routine of rewatching — consequences of predictability, nostalgia, and more.
- Kate Jansen, PhD, clinical psychologist and associate professor of behavioral sciences at Midwestern University Glendale
- Lauren Freymuth, LPC, therapist at Mindpath Health
- Lori Bindig Yousman, PhD, communication and media professor at Sacred Heart University
- Patricia Dixon, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist based in Tampa Bay, Florida
Enter the Known World
For a moment, let's take ourselves back to our childhood home, where the familiar Full House theme song declared, "our troubles are all the same, nowhere is the place we belong." Repeating the same TV shows over and over again taps into our innate preference for the known, predictable, and comforting. "Our central nervous system prefers familiarity, consistency, and predictability because it helps us feel safe," explains Lauren Freymuth, LPC, therapist.
Rewatching a series means no nasty plot twists or unexpected emotional reaction — elements that can be exciting, but perhaps less appealing when we're already feeling emotionally drained, anxious, or simply seeking comfort. "Escaping into a predictable world, like the couch-centered comedy of Friends, brings familiarity amidst life's uncertainties," Jansen says. "We know which episodes make us cry and which ones make us laugh, and we can choose accordingly."
Nostalgia and Fond Memories
Rewatching the same series can be a time machine of sorts, transporting us back to our youth. "Old TV shows can be like a pair of comfy jeans, comforting and familiar," says Lori Bindig Yousman, PhD, communication and media professor. "They can bring back memories of a happy period in our lives, or remind us of who we once were."
When you're feeling low or disconnected, revisiting an old show can help you reconnect with yourself, offering an opportunity for self-reflection. "This replay can be particularly valuable when we feel lost or disconnected from our identities," Dixon says.
A Balm for Our Feelings
Beyond the sense of nostalgia and familiarity, rewatching our favorite shows can work as a soothing balm for difficult times. "The warmth and humor we remember from these shows can provide a sense of comfort and help us navigate rocky emotional waters," Dixon shares. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 34% of adults report increased anxiety from 2024 compared to the previous year, with nearly a quarter of American adults rating their stress levels as 8, 9, or 10 out of 10. "Sometimes the comfort of something familiar outweighs the effort of trying something new," Jansen explains.
Give Your Brain a Break
In an increasingly complex world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information we're constantly absorbing. And while it's important to learn, grow, and challenge ourselves, sometimes we need a break. "Familiar shows require less cognitive effort, helping us relax without the need for intense concentration," Dixon notes. "In these moments, slipping into a predictable narrative can be a welcome escape, offering respite from life's uncertainties."
Restored Willpower
It turns out that rewatching a comforting TV show may help refill our mental energy reserves. According to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, rewatching a favorite TV show might help you restore your willpower reserves after a mentally-taxing day.
Avoid Decision Fatigue
Life's endless options can sometimes lead to choice overload, leaving us struggling to choose one thing over another. "Sifting through hundreds of shows can be overwhelming, weighing us down with difficult choices," Jansen notes. "When we're mentally drained, it's easier to settle on our old favorites rather than stressing over new ones."
Sense of Belonging
Rewatching a beloved series can help make us feel a part of something bigger, like a community. "When we revisit those beloved characters and storylines, we can sometimes feel a deep sense of connection with others who share our passion," Dixon says. Ultimately, rewatching your favorite TV shows can serve as a powerful tool for self-care. So whether you're in the mood for Ross and Rachel's turbulent relationship or Michael Scott's shenanigans at Dunder Mifflin, give yourself permission to indulge in your comfort shows. They're good for the mind, body, and soul.
- Kate Jansen explains that rewatching TV shows often brings a sense of comfort because our central nervous system prefers familiarity, consistency, and predictability, helping us feel safe.
- Lori Bindig Yousman notes that rewatching old TV shows can be like a pair of comfy jeans, comforting and familiar, bringing back memories of a happy period in our lives or reminding us of who we once were.
- Patricia Dixon shares that rewatching favorite shows can work as a soothing balm for difficult times, offering comfort and helping navigate rocky emotional waters.
- Lauren Freymuth suggests that sometimes the comfort of something familiar outweighs the effort of trying something new, as watching a predictable world can be a welcome escape from life's uncertainties.
