Watching Reruns Can Be Good For You

Is there a TV show that you can watch over and over again no matter how many times you've seen it?

Don't ever let anyone tell you that it's a waste of time. As it turns out, watching reruns may actually be good for you.

There's some science behind the desire to revisit old episodes of your favorite TV show. While it might seem like a mindless activity, that's one of the benefits. A University of Chicago study determined that by not exposing your brain to new content, no mental work is being done and you can enjoy what you’re watching even more the third or fourth time around.

There's another reason that you take pleasure in watching reruns. Those old episodes offer a comforting sense of familiarity and nostalgia that can help you relax after a stressful day at work. For instance, if you fell asleep nightly to a certain show when you were younger, you're more likely to watch the same show because it gives you a feeling of calmness.

The nostalgia of watching old episodes of your favorite TV show can also give you different perspectives on that show. For example, you may have identified with certain characters when you first started watching the show. As you've grown older your opinion of them may have changed, adding a new dimension to your viewing experience.

For the record, the TV shows I never get tired of watching are all sitcoms: Seinfeld, The Office, and Parks and Recreation. What are your all-time favorites?