This article was originally published on The Conversation.
It's easy to feel guilty when you're lazing around in front of the TV in your pajamas, eating ice cream straight out of the tub. But it's not an unusual activity in lockdown. The extended nature of the pandemic has turned attention to the impact that it is having on our collective mental health.
Many mental health organizations have proposed strategies to protect mental health, such as exercising, sleeping well and enjoying nature. This may make us assume that watching TV is ultimately bad for our mental wellbeing. But there is evidence to suggest that watching TV can also be good for us – if we go about it the right way.