You’ve hit midlife as we enter a new golden age of television. There is way more content to watch with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, HBO, Hulu, Disney Plus, and YouTube. However, this comes with a price higher than subscription fees. We may be spending less time on our phones and more time watching television, but this may not be good for our minds.
If you’re like most people, not just in their midlife, you spent the weekend binge-watching your favorite television shows or movies. If you are in middle age and concerned about your mental health, you should remove the remote even though mental illness isn’t a natural part of aging. Mental health disorders affect younger adults more often than the elderly.
For many people, television is a relaxing activity and a way to unwind from the stresses of daily life. Between work and family life, it’s not always easy to find time to relax. When you’re stressed, you might even turn to the television to calm your nerves and escape reality, but is this the best solution?
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Negative Impacts of Television
However, recent research adds to the evidence that viewing a lot of television in your twenties might negatively impact your cognitive performance later in life. The researchers discovered that “the more television you watch in your 40s, 50s, and 60s, the higher your chance of brain health concerns later in life.”
Researchers also found that people who self-report moderate or excessive (high) quantities of television viewing had higher cognitive impairment and less grey matter in their brains later in life. The existence of grey matter contributes to decision-making, hearing and vision, and muscular control.
At the same time, according to a recent poll, 61 percent of consumers claim they have watched more TV since the pandemic’s start, and 86 percent of respondents stating they want to keep or increase their viewing habits.
How can you safeguard your mental health while still watching your favorite shows? Learn more about how to modify your television habits realistically.
7 Things You Can Do That Make Midlife TV Time More Healthy
1. Become a connoisseur
Midlife adults should watch no more than two hours of television every day, according to several experts. Instead of channel surfing, plan ahead of time what you want to see. Recording shows may assist you in keeping your resolutions.
2. Make it a social event
Make watching television less passive. Enjoy family movie evenings or watch Netflix with your friends and family via an app.
3. Maintain an optimistic attitude
Mental wellness is also essential in midlife. If the headlines are depressing you, change your news sources or cut back. Think about cookery shows and comedy if you generally watch true crime dramas, horror, or war movies.
4. Establish screen-free zones
Many of the available electronic gadgets we use today, including smartphones and tablets, negatively affect our mental health. They do so much damage to our sleep. Try prohibiting at specific times and places, including meals and at least two hours before bed.
5. Snack on something light
While watching NCIS, it’s easy to eat a bag of chips, a plate of cookies, or sweets. Try drinking plenty of water and switch to plain popcorn or pita chips with a hummus dip.
6. Take frequent breaks
At least once every half hour, press the pause button. Stretch and stand up. During commercials, do pushups, crunches, jog on the spot, or jump on an exercise bike.
7. Execute a deal
Having family support can help you stay committed. Sign an agreement for your friends and family’s TV viewing and other screen behaviors. Reward yourself with something healthy for following through.
Other Ways to Protect Your Mental Health
- Exercise – Your physical health has an impact on how your brain works. Exercise regularly with a well-balanced regimen of activities that you love and will want to continue.
- Get up and move about – Increase your time spent on your feet. Instead of taking the elevator, take the steps. Handle some tasks you’ve been putting off, or create a veggie garden and cultivate your natural food source.
- Maintain a healthy diet – Choose meals that help protect your brain, heart, and other organs by reducing inflammation. Leafy green vegetables, fruit, seafood, nuts, and dark chocolate are all excellent choices.
- Take up a hobby – Substitute more physical and exciting activities for television time. Experiment with various crafts that you may produce for fun or business. Participate in a five-aside soccer league or play or learn to play a musical instrument.
- Keep social relationships – Maintain contact with family and friends. Volunteer in your community and hang out in areas where you may meet others who share your interests to make new connections.
- Get plenty of rest – A minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep every night is good for brain health. Turn off the television and go to bed so you can wake up feeling revitalized.
It is yet unclear if the cognitive deterioration is induced directly by television or by a sedentary midlife lifestyle in general. Limiting screen time and keeping cognitively and physically engaged, on the other hand, can help maintain your brain healthy as you age.
In Conclusion
New studies show that watching a lot of television in your twenties might negatively impact your cognitive performance later in midlife. Adults should watch no more than two hours of television every day, according to several experts. How can you safeguard your brain while still protecting your favorite shows?
Learn more about how to modify your TV habits realistically. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and keeping cognitively and physically engaged can help support your brain health as you age. For mental health reasons, you should sleep for a minimum of seven to eight hours every day. It is yet unclear if the cognitive deterioration is induced directly by television or by a sedentary lifestyle.
