By Michele J. Copley
We live in a world that’s not amazing, or least sometimes it can be hard to see it any other way. From heartbreak and poverty to war and day to day stress and anxiety, it’s so easy to get caught up with the peaks and valleys of life, and with so much negativity going around, it’s not hard for it to rub off and make us feel bad.
However, while everyone has different ways of getting themselves back on track, watching TV shows can be a great way to lift your mood and get you back up with a smile on your face. Today, we’re going to share with you the best, so you know what to look out for!
How Do TV Shows Affect Your Mood?
There are endless studies out there that have solid results that watching television shows can greatly affect your mood, both positivity and negatively. From discovering new favorites to rewatching the classics that stay with you for years, the mental impact TV shows have on us is actually quite profound.
This is all because TV shows have characters or situations we can relate to. We emotionally connect with the characters and can easily find ourselves rooting for them and wishing them well. We connect with their pain and their struggles (which, of course, are things many of us go through) and then seeing them come out the other side with their head’s held high, conquering whatever life puts their way, and this gives us hope that we can do the same.
“TV shows can make us laugh. They can make us cry. They can make us swell up with positivity, and they can make us re-evaluate our whole lives. In essence, TV shows are just another form of storytelling, an act of humanity which has occurred since cavemen drew on rock walls,” explains Jason Nuvell, a health writer at Draftbeyond.com and Lastminutewriting.com.
No matter how you’re feeling right now, if you’re looking for positivity, these are the TV shows you’re going to want to check out.
TV Shows to Watch for a Quick Pick Me Up
Queer Eye
A reboot on Netflix from the original ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,’ if you need a quick lift, this is the show for you. Five gay men go around giving other men complete makeovers with their entire lives to helping them find themselves and become the best versions for who they want to be.
Friends
“No list of TV shows would be complete without a mention of friends. The show has run for decades and has never fallen out of popularity, and for a good reason. Goofy, fun, and light-hearted, Friends is an easy watch to make you laugh, cry, and help remind you of the power of friendship” shares Nick Berry, a journalist at Writinity.com and Researchpapersuk.com.
The Good Place
A new addition to the Netflix inventory, The Good Place has been hailed as a fun philosophical masterpiece mixed with silly fart jokes. With lovable characters and obvious ties on figuring out people’s good and bad sides, this is a journey of self-discovery you can’t help but love.
TV Shows to Make You Laugh Out Loud
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
While somewhat darker humor to what some people may be used to, It’s Always Sunny is a fantastic take on life as the bar-owning group tackling some of the biggest issues that society faces; all with their own unique, hilarious, and slightly disturbing, take.
The Office
Whether you’re watching the original British version or the American reboot, there’s a reason everyone has heard of The Office. A mockumentary-styled service, this is one of the most colorful shows in the world, and it’s basically impossible not to laugh.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Andy Samberg is hilarious at the best of times, so mix him up with writers Michael Schur and Dan Goor, and you’ve got side-splitting humor you won’t be able to get enough off. Whether you’re looking for a quick laugh or you just want to take a break from the world and binge the day away, the silliness of the Brooklyn cast will have you in stitches.
TV Shows to Make You Feel Positive About Life
How I Met Your Mother
Easily one of my favorite shows, follow Ted Mosby and the gang as he looks for love in New York City. The gang is lovable and funny, and there’s not an episode that goes by that won’t leave you with a smile on your face.
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Michele J. Copley is a mental health blogger and advocate at Nursing Assignments and Gum Essays. She has strong experience in helping people make the most of their lives, finding happiness and fulfillment, and unwinding from long, overwhelming days. Michele also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and she is working towards becoming a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP).