can you do homework while watching tv

Does Watching TV Before Studying Affect Study Habits?

In today’s age of technology, TV’s are everywhere. They are mounted on the wall in doctor’s waiting rooms, are located in every room of the home, and even carried around in our pockets in the form of smartphones. There is no doubt about it, TV’s are inescapable and can be quite distracting. This is especially true at homework time. TV’s can have adverse implications on study habits. They can also affect the study habits of children who watch TV before studying. Here are some tips to improve your child’s study habits and help set them up for success.

Children Should Not have a 65  Inch TV in Their Bedroom

If your child studies in their bedroom, they should not have a TV in their room. It sounds crazy, but they should especially not have a huge TV in their room. There are folks who have large TVs in their kids room and that is a mega distraction. There have been documented research studies that suggest children have lower standardized test scores when they have a television in their bedroom versus those who do not.

A 2005 Stanford University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University study reported that children scored between seven and nine points lower on standardized reading and math scores. Considering this study was done before the tablet and smartphone invasion, an argument could be made that the test scores are affected more than ever before. 

These children in the study also were found to study for longer lengths of time when they had a television in their room than children who did not have a TV. The fact that televisions are distracting is the main factor for this anomaly. 

In 2018 approximately 71 percent of American kids , ages 8 to 18, had a TV in their bedroom. Further, in 2013, 75 percent of children eight years old and younger had access to a smartphone or a tablet. This poses some serious questions as to the long term implications and the successful study habits of our children. 

The simple solution: don’t let your child have a television in their bedroom. 

Is Watching TV Before Studying Poor Timing?

The short answer is yes. It is recommended that you should use television as a reward after you get a certain amount of studying done. The reason for allowing TV time after studying is so that your child has ample time to study and doesn’t run out of time to complete their homework if they spend too much of it watching TV before doing homework. 

As children get older, they tend to have more homework at night. With extra-curricular activities, some students only have an hour or so to get homework done from the time they get home from sports practices, tutoring, dance, scouts, etc. If they waste that time watching television, with the excuse that they need to decompress, they won’t get their homework done, and their grades will suffer. 

If you find that your child is chronically running out of time at night to get their homework done, you may need to reevaluate the number of extracurricular activities that they participate in or work out a better schedule for them to get their schoolwork done in a timely manner.

Learn Time Management 

Part of homework is learning how to correctly budget time. If your child wants to do sports, wants to watch television, wants to be able to play outside after school, and needs to eat dinner, they need to be good at managing their time. 

If you start instilling sound time management systems early in their education, as your child gets older, they will be better at organizing their time on their own. Once they are in college, your child will thank you for setting them up to face schoolwork on their own. 

If you are horrible with time management, perhaps sit down and put together a schedule with your child. Aim for it to be something that can easily be accomplished and not a system that can be busted open and thrown out the window if you get stuck in traffic or if the team bus is running late returning from a game.

Be sure to remember that watching television within a half-hour of bedtime can make it hard to fall asleep. The lighting from a TV can stimulate the brain, rather than help it to settle down. So, if you build TV time into your child’s schedule, make sure that it won’t hinder their ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Dad, Cyber Safety Influencer, Product Evangelist, Avid Cyclist, Hobbyist Musician. Battling the constant love/hate with tech.

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Can Kids Multitask?

"our brains are built for one thing at a time".

Posted July 9, 2011

Is this scene familiar to you? You think your child is diligently doing homework. You knock and hear a cheery "Come on in." As you enter, your daughter is holding the telephone in one hand, a message is popping up on her Facebook page, and the latest song from her favorite group is blaring from her speakers. The only thing resembling homework is the math book open on the table next to the keyboard. "I thought you were doing homework," you say. She gives you a puzzled look and responds, "I am."

A Multitasking Generation Your daughter, and most of her peers across the country, are electronically connected like never before. Young people spend 53 hours a week with entertainment media and much of that time is spent multitasking. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation , almost a third of all kids say that they are using another form of media "most of the time" while they are watching TV, listening to music, reading or using a computer. This isn't just about kids either. Studies of adults have demonstrated that it's not unusual for someone to check their email 30-40 times an hour during the workday! For the multitasking generation, if you aren't doing a couple of things at once, you begin to feel like you're slacking off.

Wired for the Web Does being wired make kids capable multitaskers? Yes and no. Heavy Internet users are certainly more adept at sifting through massive amounts of information very quickly. As young people's brains adapt to the daily bombardment of media messages, images, and bits of information, they get better at processing this information in efficient ways.

For example, a researcher in the United Kingdom found that frequent Web surfers took only two seconds on any given Web site before deciding to move on to another. Remarkably, she found the sites where surfers stopped and focused were ones most relevant to the search terms. In other words, our brains get better and better at synthesizing and evaluating information at lightning speeds. This is an important skill in the digital age and is useful a lot of the time.

The Cost of Multitasking However, other times, this rapid fire processing comes at a significant cost. When kids are multitasking, their brains are spending so much energy making quick decisions and responding to stimuli that they have fewer mental resources for comprehension and retention.

A couple of researchers at Cornell brought this issue into clear view. They divided a class of students into two groups. One group was allowed to be online during a lecture and the other group was not. It turns out that the online group did check out some information related to the lecture content, but they also checked email, tuned into Facebook, and watched videos - all typical online activities. The second group had to listen to the lecture unplugged. The unplugged students performed significantly better on measures of memory and comprehension following the lecture. Similar studies have produced the same results. Frequent interruptions scatter our thoughts and erode our memories.

Our Brains Focus on One Thing at a Time It's not that we can't do some tasks simultaneously. We can all chew gum while walking, and most of us can drive a car and carry on a conversation. But if we are lost in heavy traffic in an unfamiliar part of town, the radio goes off and the talking stops. If two tasks are performed at once, one of the tasks has to be familiar. We perform a familiar task on "automatic pilot" while really paying attention to the other one. If they both require attention, we're in trouble. The brain can only do so much at one time. That's why insurance companies consider talking on a cell phone while driving as dangerous as drunk driving.

So flooding our working memory with information makes it difficult to really focus. But is this really a big deal? Yes. The brains of the multitasking generation are getting a lot of practice with fast and superficial spurts of attention at the expense of deep, creative, and focused thinking. We may be living in the Information Age but our brains have not been redesigned yet. When a task requires concentration , there is a cognitive cost to juggling too much at the same time. So the next time your kids tell you they can do homework while watching TV or talking on the phone, just say, "Sorry. One thing at a time."

Here are some tips to parent multitasking kids. They may complain but their brains will thank you!

• Explain to your child that his or her brain is like a spotlight. It can only shine on one thing at a time. Share the research on multitasking with your kids. • Encourage your child to get ready for studying by relaxing and focusing their attention on the task at hand. Most children also thrive on a studying schedule so they can plan on always doing their homework right after dinner, for example. • Make sure that your child's study space is free from digital and other distractions. This means that when the textbook opens, TV and Facebook go off. • Make sure your child's cell phone is in the other room. No ringtones, no vibrations, no distractions. • Set aside a time right after studying for your child to check their Facebook page and look at texts. • The Internet can be a wonderful study tool. Help your child develop the skills to use the Internet to aid learning instead of eroding it. For example, unrelated YouTube videos are a distraction while other videos can be a great part of the self-directed learning and exploration possible online. • It can take a while to develop the important skills of concentration and focused attention. Don't expect your kids to thrive in a calm studying environment right away! Don't give up. • Set developmentally appropriate expectations for how long your child can focus deeply on a task. For example, your six year old isn't likely to last more than fifteen or twenty minutes on a task. Your teen , on the other hand, can focus for a full fifty minutes with short two minute "brain breaks" every fifteen minutes or so. • Set a technological curfew in your household. Getting texts all night robs children's brains of much needed rest. • Create clear expectations and consequences about "driving while texting or talking." Distracted driving is very dangerous. Talking while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving and texting while driving is a recipe for disaster. • Try technology-free dinners. When any of us multitask at the table, we lose an important chance to connect with one another.

There's a lot more information about parenting "iKids" in my new book, Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids: The One Brain Book You Need to Help Your Child Grow Brighter, Healthier and Happier.

David Walsh, Ph.D. , founder of Mind Positive Parenting, has worked with kids, parents, families and teachers for over 35 years.

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Should I be concerned about my teen's constant multitasking during homework?

Many teens multitask with media while doing their homework, and most of them think this has no effect on the quality of their work. Consider the stats :

• 51 percent of teens say they often or sometimes watch TV during homework.
• 50 percent often or sometimes use social media while doing homework.
• 60 percent often or sometimes text during homework.
• 76 percent often or sometimes listen to music during homework. (In fact, 50 percent of teens think listening to music helps their work vs. 6 percent who think it hurts.)

But, despite what kids think and do, frequently using several devices at a time affects the ability to focus. Productivity suffers when switching rapidly between different tasks because the brain has to re-focus every time it switches to a new activity . Over time, heavy multitaskers can also have trouble with face-to-face conversations.

The challenge for parents is figuring out what's normal (but frustrating) teen behavior and what are truly unhealthy study habits. Listening to music while doing homework seems harmless, but many studies have shown that listening to popular music with lyrics can hurt reading comprehension and the ability to do complex tasks, but that more "zen-like" and classical music does not. But if your teens' academics are slipping, that's a red flag. Discuss your concerns and talk about ways to structure homework time, such as turning off cell phones and TV for a certain amount of time or allowing kids to check their texts only after they complete each assignment. Consider asking your kids to write down assignments and have them check each off as they finish them. Maybe offer rewards for finishing in a timely manner, since multitasking tends to make homework time drag on.

If your kid is really having a tough time blocking out distractions and staying focused, you might need some technical assistance. If your kid's school uses a 1-to-1 device program, ask the teacher if it comes with some time-management software or other controls that allow you to restrict access to non-homework-related sites. If your kid is using your home computer to do work, you might consider a parental-control program such as OpenDNS or KidsWatch that lets you separate homework from playtime.

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Distracted by Technology: Focusing Attention on Homework

By Michael Howard

Does your child stay up all night doing homework ? Is he or she often texting or online while doing homework or studying? Is it possible for students to study and do their homework effectively while being distracted by technology? Is focusing attention on homework really all that important? It’s just homework, right? 

Welcome to the 21st century. A world filled with distractions every where you turn. How is it even possible to get homework done at all, let alone focus on doing homework without being distracted by a wide variety of electronic gadgets. Back in the not so distant past, you might have heard a kid saying "It doesn't matter if I have the TV on while I do my homework. It's not like I'm studying for a test." Today, it's a bit more complicated as students and their smart phones are inseparable. What might at first glance seem harmelss, doing homework or studying while watching TV, texting or checking social media can actually impair learning the material as well as lower test scores. Research has shown that it's one of the worst study habits a student can develop.

Is There an App For That ?

With nearly everyone over the age of 10 having a cell phone and access to the internet these days, it's quite common to find students dividing their attention between texting, checking social media websites and surfing the internet while doing homework and studying for exams. Given that text messaging is the way many students communicate with each other, it's not easy for parents to explain to them that when it's time to do homework or study for an exam it's necessary to turn their phone off.

In all likelihood, they will argue about this as s tudents of all ages seem to have a misconception that they can pay attention to more than one thing at a time and that multitasking is an effective way to do homework or study for a test. How are you, their parent, going to respond? With research. In this blog post, w e reviewed the most up to date research that we could find on the subject of multitasking to give parents a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful student.

What Does Research Show About Studying While Distracted by Technology?

In a study conducted by Dr. Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State University - Dominguez Hills, students were observed studying for a 15 minute period where they were told to "study something important.” He found was that students generally started to lose focus after about three minutes. On average "students only spent about 65 percent of the observation period actually studying." That’s not exactly what you might consider “quality” studying time.

Dr. Rosen did another study where he surveyed high school students and asked them how often they switch from studying to doing something related to technology such as checking email, Facebook, texting or watching TV. Across all grade levels, 80% of students reported that they switch between studying and technology somewhat often to very often. Rosen calls this “Continuous Partial Attention,” meaning that most of the time, students are not focused on studying but rather are moving their attention back and forth between studying and various forms of technology. As you might expect, students who were the most distracted generally had the most windows open on their computers. Students who were less distracted had higher GPAs than students who switched back and forth fairly often and those who regularly check Facebook or text messages. Students who had strategies for studying also had higher GPAs according to Rosen’s findings.

Rosen explains, “Young people’s technology use is really about quelling anxiety...they don’t want to miss out or to be the last person to hear some news (or like or comment about a post online).” One of the major problems with texting and posting on Facebook and other social media sites while in class and/or studying, is that "they draw on the same mental resources—using language, parsing meaning—demanded by schoolwork." Ultimately, he concludes, if we want students to learn and perform at their best, smart phones and other online distractions must be managed.

Can Doing Homework While Distracted by Technology Affect Test Scores?

In another study of 8-18 year old students done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly one third of the students surveyed confessed that when they were doing homework, they were also watching TV, texting, or listening to music. Victoria Rideout, the lead author of the study, warns parents about the dangers of media multitasking. This concern is distinct from worrying about how much kids are online or how much kids are media multitasking overall. “It’s multitasking while learning that has the biggest potential downside,”she says.

If a student is focused when doing their homework, they actually retain more of the information when it comes time to take a test on the same subject matter. It's like studying for the test little by little and absorbing the information in small chunks. The strategy of ‘chunking’ bits of information has been shown to be the most effective way to learn larger amounts of information and is a useful test prep strategy. If a student does her homework while multitasking, that will result in less information being retained and therefore  more time will be required for test preparation in order to achieve the same result. Compounding matters, if homework is done while multitasking in an introductory class, it will be more difficult to build on that “shaky foundation of knowledge” in the more advanced class the next semester.

Dr. David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan observed that “under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time. Listening to a lecture while texting, or doing homework and being on Facebook—each of these tasks is very demanding, and each of them uses the same area of the brain, the prefrontal cortex." Most students incorrectly believe that they can perform two challenging tasks at the same time, according to Meyer. They may like to do it, they may even be addicted to it, but there’s no getting around the fact that it’s far better to focus on one task from start to finish.”

Quick Test for Students to Determine if Multitasking Impacts Performance

Here’s a fun, 3 minute test that you can do along with your kids to demonstrate if multitasking impacts performance (and the time it takes to complete homework).  Taking this simple test will allow students to see for themselves if multitasking could potentially be affecting their studying.

http://davecrenshaw.com/multitasking-example/

Top 3 Negative Outcomes of Studying While Being Distracted by Technology

According to an article by Annie Murphy Paul , research has shown that there are various negative outcomes that result from students multitasking while doing homework. Paul describes the top 3 negative outcomes. "First, the assignment takes longer to complete, because of the time spent on distracting activities and because, upon returning to the assignment, the student has to re-familiarize himself with the material.” Second, the mental fatigue caused by repeatedly dropping and picking up a mental thread leads to more mistakes. “Third, students’ subsequent memory of what they’re working on will be impaired if their attention is divided.” Paul explains, “The moment of encoding information is what matters most for retention, and dozens of laboratory studies have demonstrated that when our attention is divided during encoding, we remember that piece of information less well—or not at all."

Paul goes on to write, "Finally, researchers have found that media multitasking while learning is correlated with lower grades. In Rosen’s study (discussed above), students who used Facebook during the 15-minute observation period had lower grade-point averages than those who didn’t go on the site. In addition, two recent studies by Reynol Junco , a faculty associate at Harvard’s Berkan Center for Internet & Society , found that texting and using Facebook—in class and while doing homework—were negatively correlated with college students’ GPAs."

In conclusion, the evidence is overwhelming. Studying or doing homework while sitting in front of the TV, using social media or texting, makes it more difficult to learn and retain the information, increases the time it takes to complete homework, and may ultimately result in lower test scores.

Is your child attached to his smart phone or other electronic gadgets? If so, and grades are suffering, it might be time to take action. Are you ready to help your child  break the multitasking habit, learn to focus attention on homework and get on the path to academic success?

How Parents Can Help Children Manage Distractions While Studying

Teach your child to take technology breaks to separate doing homework from using technology. Here's the strategy: After your child has worked on his homework without interruption for 15 minutes, he is then allowed a technology break for 2-3 minutes to text and post to social media. When the break time is up, you instruct him to turn off his electronic devices for another 15 minutes of doing homework or studying. Students can extend their working time to 20, 30 or 45 minutes and perhaps extend their technology break time to 5-7 minutes. If your child complains that the technology break time is too short, you can let him know that when he is finished with his homework, he can use technology for as long as he wants (or whatever amount of time you say is ok).

Would you like to cut your child's homework time in half?

If so, click below to download our free guide to "Cutting Homework Time in Half."  You might also want to contact us to see if Executive Function coaching can help your child with focusing attention on homework .

Photo credit: Gitte Laasby

Attribution: A much more detailed discussion of some of these studies can be found in Slate Magazine (May 3, 2013) by Annie Murphy Paul , a fellow at the New America Foundation and author of the book Brilliant: The Science of How We Get Smarter.

Michael Howard is the Director of Marketing for Beyond BookSmart. He joined the company in 2012 and works remotely from Los Angeles. He is responsible for researching and developing marketing strategies, marketing materials, updating and optimizing the company website, social media, and search engine optimization. Michael earned his BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Lamar University .

About the Author

Michael howard.

Michael Howard is the Lead Marketing Strategist for Beyond BookSmart. He joined the company in 2012 and works remotely from Los Angeles. He is responsible for researching and developing marketing strategies, marketing materials, updating and optimizing the company website, social media, and search engine optimization. Michael is also involved with researching and recruiting potential candidates for employment. Michael earned his BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Champaign and his MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Lamar University.

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Is it bad to watch movies, etc while studying for finals?

<p>The only thing that has gotten me to focus on my calc is my movie marathon. They are all movies that I have seen 1000s of times. I am picking up concepts and i get excited to study because it means i could watch one of my fav movies too. is this bad? i mean, so far so good for me but does anyone else do this?</p>

<p>i know there are studies that show multi-tasking is bad…</p>

<p>hmmmmmmmm?</p>

<p>You seriously bumped after 1 hour? Go watch a movie or something and relax :D</p>

<p>And yes, I used to do this too but with TV shows since they’re shorter.</p>

<p>You just said it’s helping you, so it’s obviously not too bad for you. You’re probably more focused on the work and just use the movie as a distraction, a background noise. If you start trying to focus on the movie then you might start having trouble sticking to studying.</p>

<p>It’s all dependent on what works for you. I know people who work best that way. It sounds like you perform better with a movie on. You could try without the movie. If you still do better with, than you probably don’t need our input.</p>

<p>I do way better without anything going on. A couple nights ago, I tried to study to music, and I just ended up zoning out to it, doing pushups, and looking up random stuff related to the bands. Then last night I did it without the music, and I just totally immersed myself in studying.</p>

<p>As long as you’re focusing, you should be fine. If you mean studying while watching a movie, then you need to make sure you’re not distracted by the movie to the point that you’re not even really studying.</p>

<p>As ExaltedAlmighty said, it depends on each person so if you can work like that, then all the better. I also require a quiet environment to study, and things like talking/TV/other noises don’t help me. I listen to music occasionally when I do some form of written homework, but otherwise, if I’m reading or studying some material, I can’t listen to music at the same time.</p>

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Q: Does the TV Really Help My Son Focus on Homework?

It’s true that the adhd brain sometimes needs background noise in order to focus on a boring task. but does your child really need the tv or music on in order to complete a homework assignment the answer might be yes..

Q: “My son insists TV helps him focus when he’s trying to complete a ‘boring’ homework task such as copying a map. I tell him no TV during homework because it is a distraction. He gets angry at me and says I don’t understand how his brain works and blames me when he can’t focus and get his work done. Any thoughts?” — AntiTVParent

Hi AntiTVParent:

I love that you asked this question! It’s a common one with not a simple answer. It’s not always easy to identify the right course of action for your child. But, in your case, your son is telling you (and very clearly, it seems) what he needs to complete those “boring” tasks. So since you didn’t mention if your son is actually able to complete them when the television is on, my short answer is: You need to allow him to try. Perhaps you can experiment with him: Do one day’s homework with TV and the next day’s without, and see if there is a difference.

Many of my student clients find it very helpful to have the television on in the background for them to complete busywork. It keeps them focused and on task. And if we’re being really honest, it makes the boring less boring. Especially for the ADHD brain. However, for the kind of work that requires real brainpower, I would say no television.

[ Click to Download: Free Guide to Managing and Safeguarding Your Child’s Screen Time ]

Many of my students who find homework to be anxiety producing say that having the television on has a soothing, stress-relieving effect for them.  And, interestingly enough, they can put on the television and not touch the channel — but when listening to music, they are constantly changing songs.

And speaking of music, my all-time favorite tip for students is to create 30-minute playlists to listen to while they work. So if your son needs background noise , perhaps you can introduce this technique. He creates a playlist of music he knows well and listens to it every time he sits down to do math, for example. The consistency of hearing the same songs over and over again will help his brain activate and stay focused.

So my advice to you is this: Say yes to music if he needs it to stay focused and yes to background television ONLY if he is using it for “simple tasks” — and completes them.

[ Get this Free Resource: How to Regulate Your Teen’s Devices ]

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Mutltitasking hurts performance but makes you feel better

People aren't very good at media multitasking -- like reading a book while watching TV -- but do it anyway because it makes them feel good, a new study suggests. The findings provide clues as to why multitasking is so popular, even though many studies show it is not productive.

Researchers had college students record all of their media use and other activities for 28 days, including why they used various media sources and what they got out of it.

The findings showed that multitasking often gave the students an emotional boost, even when it hurt their cognitive functions, such as studying.

"There's this myth among some people that multitasking makes them more productive," said Zheng Wang, lead author of the study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University.

"But they seem to be misperceiving the positive feelings they get from multitasking. They are not being more productive -- they just feel more emotionally satisfied from their work."

Take, for example, students who watched TV while reading a book. They reported feeling more emotionally satisfied than those who studied without watching TV, but also reported that they didn't achieve their cognitive goals as well, Wang said.

"They felt satisfied not because they were effective at studying, but because the addition of TV made the studying entertaining. The combination of the activities accounts for the good feelings obtained," Wang said.

Wang conducted the study with John Tchernev, a graduate student in Communication at Ohio State. Their results appear online in the Journal of Communication and will be published in a future print edition.

Wang said many studies done in laboratory settings have found that people show poorer performance on a variety of tasks when they try to juggle multiple media sources at the same time: for example, going from texting a friend, to reading a book, to watching an online video.

But surveys show that media multitasking is only becoming more popular. The question, Wang said, is why do people do so much multitasking if it actually impairs their performance?

To answer that question, Wang said they had to move out of the laboratory and into real life. They recruited 32 college students who agreed to carry a cellphone-like device and report on their activities three times each day for four weeks.

The participants reported on each media use (such as computer, radio, print, television, radio) and sub types (for computer use, whether they were web browsing, using social networking, etc.) They reported the type of activity, the duration, and whether any other activities were performed simultaneously (in other words, whether they were multitasking).

They also provided their motivations for each activity or combination of activities from a list of seven potential needs, including social, fun/entertainment, study/work, and habits/background noise. For each need, they reported the strength of the need on a 10-point scale, and whether those needs were met on a 4-point scale.

The results showed that participants were more likely to multitask when they reported an increase in cognitive needs (such as study or work) or habitual needs or both.

That means, for example, that the students were more likely to multitask when they needed to study (a cognitive need.)

But one of the key findings of the study is that this multitasking didn't do a very good job of satisfying their cognitive needs which actually motivate the multitasking in the first place, Wang said. That's probably because their other media use distracted them from the job of studying. However, the students reported that the multitasking was very good at meeting their emotional needs (fun/entertainment/relaxing) -- interestingly, a need they weren't even seeking to fulfill.

In addition, the results showed that habits played an important role in the use of media multitasking.

"Our findings showed that habitual needs increase media multitasking and are also gratified from multitasking," she said.

This suggests that people get used to multitasking, which makes them more likely to continue.

"We found what we call a dynamical feedback loop. If you multitask today, you're likely to do so again tomorrow, further strengthening the behavior over time," she said.

"This is worrisome because students begin to feel like they need to have the TV on or they need to continually check their text messages or computer while they do their homework. It's not helping them, but they get an emotional reward that keeps them doing it.

"It is critical that we carefully examine the long-term influence of media multitasking on how we perform on cognitive tasks."

The study was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

• Intelligence
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Story Source:

Materials provided by Ohio State University . Original written by Jeff Grabmeier. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Zheng Wang, John M. Tchernev. The “Myth” of Media Multitasking: Reciprocal Dynamics of Media Multitasking, Personal Needs, and Gratifications . Journal of Communication , 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01641.x

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Best TV Shows to Have in the Background While Studying

Now while we don’t necessarily condone watching television while studying, if you’re a Zoomer (Gen Z) like me, a little background noise can help. 

So even if you’re not paying attention to the show because you’re too busy trying to understand exponents, I’ve compiled a list of all the best shows to have on in the background. They’re funny, short and you really don’t need to pay attention to pick up on the plot. 

Miss actually working in an office or going to work in general? Well look no further. This is an American mockumentary sitcom that depicts the everyday lives of office employees at a paper company. It features a nutty boss, crazy pranks and a ton of laughs…it might be a tad far-fetched from a real life office. 

How to watch: Netflix 

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Rec is pretty similar to the office but features a group of employees working for their local Parks and Rec department in Pawnee, Indiana. If you like a lot of chaos mixed with some politics this is the show for you. A love of breakfast food is also a must. 

How to watch: Netflix

Looking to attend community college soon? Well check out Community, a completely unrealistic example following the lives of different students as they attend community college. It’s over the top and far-fetched but will make you cry laughing. Besides, who can resist a young Donald Glover? 

Black-Ish/Grown-Ish

Black-ish follows an upper middle class African-American family led by Andre and Rainbow and revolves around the family’s lives, as they juggle several personal and societal issues. This show is hilarious, heartwarming and makes you want to curl up with your family… or fight with them… either or. 

The show also has a spin-off named Grown-Ish. This follows the oldest daughter of the family, Zoey, as she heads off to college and learns it might not be all that it’s cracked up to be. If you love outstanding fashion, the highs and lows of relationships/friendships and some good comedy this is the show for you.  

How to watch both: Hulu

Ever wondered what it’s like living with roommates in your late twenties to early thirties? Well look no further. This show follows a quirky girl named Jess after she breaks up with her boyfriend and moves in with three male strangers. It’s hilarious and portrays the ups and downs of living with other people while trying to “become an adult.” 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the lives of a group of detectives working in the 99th precinct in Brooklyn, NY. Between solving murders and tracking down criminals this group has time for endless jokes, Halloween heists and a whole lot of ridiculousness. 

How to watch: Hulu

Anything HGTV

This channel really speaks for itself. It shows home and garden improvement shows all day, every day and yes they are ADDICTING. Soon you’ll be saying words you’ve never heard of before like “crown molding, “open floor plan” and “shiplap.” However, it’s definitely the easiest channel to have on in the background when studying. 

How to watch: Just pop on the HGTV channel 

Sarah L. Marketing Coordinator. Resident Zoomer (Gen Z). Loves to read, write and watch TV.

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Live and recorded classes will take you through every topic on the GED test and experts are available to answer questions.

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Is it OK to watch TV while studying?

Table of Contents

• 1 Is it OK to watch TV while studying?
• 2 Is it OK to watch movies while studying?
• 3 What can I watch while I study?
• 4 Is it okay to watch Netflix while studying?
• 5 Can you watch Netflix while doing homework?
• 6 Is it okay to watch TV while doing homework?
• 7 What happens when you focus on your homework?

Definitely turn it off. No matter how your brain works and what you need to study, the TV will just distract you. On the other hand, if you frequently (or soon to be) find yourself having to study in a place with lots of distractions, then you can leave it on to help train yourself to focus.

Is it OK to watch movies while studying?

If you entertain yourself while studying, your brain will get some time to relax and won’t be overburdened. A great way to entertain yourself is by watching movies!

Is listening to music while doing homework bad?

Listening to music while doing homework seems harmless, but many studies have shown that listening to popular music with lyrics can hurt reading comprehension and the ability to do complex tasks, but that more “zen-like” and classical music does not.

Is it bad to listen to music while studying?

Music that is soothing and relaxing can help students to beat stress or anxiety while studying. During long study sessions, music can aid endurance. In some cases, students have found that music helps them with memorization, likely by creating a positive mood, which indirectly boosts memory formation.

What can I watch while I study?

8 TV Shows To Binge Watch While Studying

• Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls is the perfect TV show to binge watch while studying as you don’t have to pay a lot of attention to keep up with what is going on.
• Parks and Recreation.
• The Big Bang Theory.
• The Simpsons.
• The Toys That Made Us.
• Our Planet.

Is it okay to watch Netflix while studying?

It’s totally fine! Just think of Netflix as a reward for your studies!

What should I watch while doing homework?

They’re funny, short and you really don’t need to pay attention to pick up on the plot.

• The Office. Miss actually working in an office or going to work in general?
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
• Anything HGTV.

Is LOFI good for studying?

Yes, lo-fi music can help you study, as it specifically triggers an enjoyable response. When we are in a pleasurable situation, this causes the release of Dopamine, a neurotransmitter which elicits a focused response. Dopamine is responsible for enhancing alertness, motivation, focus and happiness.

Can you watch Netflix while doing homework?

Once you enable the Netflix Picture in Picture mode, you can quickly minimize the player and play in the background on Android. While the movie is playing on Netflix, simply tap on the button and Netflix will switch to Picture in Picture mode.

Is it okay to watch TV while doing homework?

What happens when you study in front of the TV?

Is it bad to multitask while doing homework?

What happens when you focus on your homework?

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33 Activities You Can Use To Multitask While Binge-Watching Your Fave Show

If you love to multitask, you're gonna be allllll about this list of items.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. An ever-popular Instant Pot you can use to whip up a delectable meal while you kick your feet up and get engrossed in Euphoria .

The Duo Plus replaces nine common kitchen appliances. It can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, and egg cooker, with the ability to sauté, steam, warm, sterilize... and oh, it makes cakes too.

I got one of these via my wedding registry (almost four years ago, yikes) and FINALLY tested it out. It was definitely a bit intimidating (I blame This Is Us for my fears) but if you take the time to follow the initial directions it's not bad at all! I used it to make an at-home version of Trader Joe's butternut squash mac and cheese (seen above to the right) and it was delish! I definitely patted myself on the back for a job well done — and my very Italian husband was shocked at its ability to cook pasta in three minutes.

Promising review: "Perfect addition to the Instant Pot family. This little pot does the same incredible job as its bigger brother and sisters. Great for making the side dishes or smaller main dishes. If you haven't gotten on board the Instant Pot train, do not hesitate! This mini pot even makes yogurt. The benefits to pressure cooking are numerous, using the Instant Pot makes it incredibly easy. Can you tell I'm completely smitten with this little appliance?! It proudly sits on my counter and is used nearly every single day." — Prairie Princess

Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in three sizes).

2. A portable elliptical you can use in literally any room of your house — seriously you can sit on your toilet and exercise at the same time all the while watching Netflix on your phone. A+ multitasking.

Despite its size, this lil' elliptical gets the job done! You can use it standing or place it under your desk to assure you get your workout in even if you're hanging out at home.

Promising review: "I love this elliptical! It isn't exactly 'portable,' but I was able to carry it to work on public transportation without killing myself. Setup took about 15 minutes and didn't require tools or more skill than Ikea furniture. It's completely silent and I have had people standing at my desk talking to me who had no idea I was even using it. I always tell them about it though and now several other people in my office have bought one . At first I was only doing 10-15 miles a day before getting tired, or I would find it distracting as my heart rate got up, but now I have the resistance at 75% and I can use it for four to five hours a day, logging up to 50 miles on average . I have found a sweet-spot where I can peddle nonstop and I always feel riiiiight on the verge of breaking a serious sweat, so I take a 30-second break every 10-15 minutes just to keep from ruining my makeup." — blac12

Get it from Amazon for $119.99 (available in three colors).

3. A do-it-yourself castle rhinestone art piece featuring tons of tiny gems that'll come together to make a dazzling display of Disney magic.

Promising review : "Got this with a friend to complete during quarantine! (We each got one to work on from afar.) There are only a few spots where the adhesive isn’t as sticky as others that I’ve had to reattach the gems but overall the price, shipping time and overall look is amazing!" — Meredith F.

Get it from Amazon for $11.87 .

4. A nail art kit you can use to take your at-home manicure skills to the next level without having to pause Legally Blonde . You're gonna be living in Compliment City as soon as your friends catch a glimpse at how fabulous your nails look.

This set comes with 15 nail art design brushes, 5 drawing/dotting pens, 10 assorted nail striping tapes, 12 foil stickers, and 2 boxes of rhinestones.

Promising review: "This was a great find! I’m having fun experimenting with everything! It includes a nice selection of skinny striping tape colors and they stick very well. I would’ve liked for it to have included black, but I’ll live. :) I love the size and color of the pretty little stones and the foils rock! I’m happy with the brushes and the dotting tools also. Just so you know, the dotting tools are all the same size on one end and five different sizes on the other end, which is adequate for me. Everything came neatly packaged. The entire set is thumbs up from me!" — Lyon B.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four combos).

5. Olive & June Press-On Nails that'll help you apply a manicure in a snap! The best part? Your nails will look fresh without the hassle of trying to execute a perfect polish job — and  no need to take a break from your yearly Gilmore Girls  re-watch while you apply 'em.

BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass and I are huuuuge fans of the Olive & June brand! You can check out our  full review  while you anxiously wait for your gift to arrive.

Get it from Olive & June for $10 (available in sizes extra-short — long and 19 styles).

6. A bread-making machine to fill your home with the aroma of freshly baked bread while you get your fill of The Great British Baking Show.  Is there any better smell than that on a cold, wintry day? I think not.

Promising review: "I didn't want to spend a lot of money in case it turned out that we didn't like it. Well, we love it. We consume a fresh loaf every three days and it only takes me 10 minutes to measure the ingredients, add them to the pot, and set it to go. Much faster. For reference, I have only made the basic 1.5-lb loaf set to light crust. I follow the instructions exactly except I substitute the water with warm milk. I made this modification after the first couple of loaves. They were good but just a little dry for our liking. Using warm milk, instead of water, turns out a softer loaf. I'm sure I will try other recipes down the road but for now, this is what I needed it for and it works wonderfully." — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $71.99 .

7. A scratch paper art set that'll take you right back to your elementary school days but also provide a fun way to keep your hands busy while you watch TV.

Promising review: "Ahhh I love these so much, takes doodling to a whole new level! It's an anxiety relief like you wouldn't believe. Plus my kids also get a kick out of them. These are so worth it and I'm going to be keeping these stocked up!" — Katie Toomey

Get it from Amazon for $11.89 .

8. A Simply Fit Board , so you can twist 'n' shout your way into a fitness routine you actually enjoy without taking your eyes off of Love Island .

In my opinion, the hardest part about exercising is finding a workout that you find fun and actually want to spend time doing. Enter: the Simply Fit Board. You can use it to balance during planks, as support for push-ups, or to strengthen your core. You're gonna love it!

Promising review: "Love this board! I use every day and it is a great workout. It's transportable, durable, and highly effective! My abs look amazing! You can work cardio, core, upper body and lower body in a great variety of workouts on YouTube designed for the Simply Fit Board — can't give higher praise for this one!" — Heidi Hogan

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four colors).

9. A New Yorker cover-turned puzzle with 1,000 pieces that'll remind you about one of the positives of winter — you don't have to fight anyone for a prime spot to place your beach chair. Instead you can work on this and indulge in a re-watch of  Hawaii Five-0.

Promising review: "This puzzle is good quality, with sturdy pieces and a nicely rendered illustration. What makes it tricky are the highly unusual shapes of the pieces. Some of the pieces just touch instead of interlocking, so it's a tough one to put together. I really enjoyed the challenge and just ordered another from the same company." — Gourmet Gal

Get it from Amazon for $24 .

10. Or a Jiggy puzzle subscription , a must-have if you tend to fly through puzzles as fast as you do your Netflix queue. You'll receive a new 500-piece puzzle every month you can use to challenge yourself.

This woman-owned small business features an array of beautifully drawn puzzles from female artists — check out all of their offerings here .

Get a subscription from Jiggy for $26/month .

11. An interactive Plankboard you can use while watching The Real Housewives  — it'll help you strengthen your core, legs, arms, and back, and upgrade your balancing abilities without boring you to tears.

Promising review: "I love it! The design is clean and simple. The games are basic, but still keep me in a plank longer than normal. I like the workout part, basically 30-second intervals of different exercises, you pick how many 30-second segments you want to do at a time. There is a daily challenge too. I would be bored to tears after one 40-second regular plank, I do over six minutes plus at each session on this and you really feel it strengthening your core." — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $90.30 .

12. A book of 642 tiny things to draw , so you'll have some other ideas of fun things to doodle during your next Wes Anderson movie marathon aside from your name and Owen Wilson's in a heart together.

Promising review: "Bought this for my very artistic 13-year-old daughter. She's forever asking, 'what should I draw?' I crossed my fingers when I ordered this, as we've tried many other books to inspire her that didn't. When I gave it to her, I was expecting a lukewarm response. However, as she thumbed through the book, she started giggling and smiling and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I even got a spontaneous hug. She ran to the door when her dad got home to show him the book. And I think that the 642 options may just keep her inspired for a few weeks! ;) Any book that can charm a 13-year-old girl is a keeper in my book!" — Fascinated viewer

Get it from Amazon for $9.95 .

13. A coloring book of cocktail sipping animals (and drink recipes!) you can count on to keep you extra entertained while watching the cast of Vanderpump Rules  develop cocktail recipes.

You can also grab markers , crayons , or colored pencils here — pick your poison 😉.

Promising review : "I love coloring and I love cocktails, so this coloring book couldn't be more perfect! It's adorable and fun! I usually like to drink alcohol and color on my Friday nights, so this makes it even more fun!" — Ashley Moree

Get it from Amazon for $8.97 .

14. Or a  Beauty of Horror coloring book anyone would find to be simply gore geous and a great way to *kill* some time if their partner has insisted on, once again, watching a true-crime documentary.

Promising review: "Love this coloring book! It combines the haunted fun of Halloween with a creepy twist. Perfect for relaxing and escaping from anxiety!! The pages are nice and thick. No issues coloring with markers. Definitely recommend!" — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $13.60 .

15. A squat machine to help you target the three main muscles in your butt while admiring how shockingly gorgeous everyone seems to be on Selling Sunset . 

The DB Method is a woman-owned company and has become quite popular among celebs like Tracee Ellis Ross, the Kardashians, and Hailey Bieber (which is enough reason for me to give it a test run). It'll help you strengthen your center of gravity and, IMO, is quite budget friendly in comparison to most other home workout equipment.

Promising review: "I am so happy I made the decision to buy a DB Method. I've been using it for the past two weeks at least 10 minutes daily and I can see a difference in my abs, arms, legs and butt! A great full body workout. You will not be disappointed with this purchase! Go for it." — Cleo B.

Get it from The DB Method for $229 .

16. A Paint by Number kit , a great activity that'll help you zen out and get in touch with your creative side. Perfect for working on while watching Bob Ross do his thing.

Emberpearlco is a small business based in Shawnee, Kansas that sells an array of Paint by Number kits.

Promising review: "Loved it! Perfect size for me because I have a terrible attention span and never finish any paint by numbers 😂 great supplies also (the paint and brushes), cute packaging!" — Ayla

Get it from Emberpearlco on Etsy for $26 .

17. A Cricut Maker machine you can use to whip up all kinds of crafts and keep yourself busy with your fave show on in the background — this gadget is great for paper crafts, iron-ons, vinyl decals, sewing projects, leather crafts, and more. Time to open your own Etsy shop!

My mother-in-law absolutely loves her Cricut — it's one of her favorite gadgets. She loves using it to craft cards for all of the family, accents for holiday meals, and to personalize gifts. It's a fun and easy way to unwind while also feeling like you've been productive with your down time.

Promising review: "I love my Cricut Maker! I waited too long to get this. If you’re on the fence just get it because it’s awesome. I’ve made a number of personalized cards and gifts and my family and friends absolutely love them. I also label things for my 2-year-old (at home and for school) and decorated my house! Love love love!!! I get ideas on Pinterest and there’s lots of Facebook groups you can join for even more ideas. Worth the money and works way better than I thought it would. It makes tiny little cuts for detailed pieces. Did I already mention how much I love it? Also they come out with new tools which makes your potential projects limitless!" — Stephanie N

Get it from Amazon for $221.72+ (available in four colors).

18. Or the Cricut Mug Press , a must-have for anyone looking for a new go-to craft. You'll use it alongside your Cricut machine to create customized mugs for everyone in your life. Might I suggest putting each of your besties' fave SATC  characters on a mug for them??? We can pretend And Just Like That  never happened.

My mother-in-law and I recently got our hands on this new gadget and, with some practice, nailed the crafting process. The Cricut Mug Press doesn't need to connect to Bluetooth like the other gadgets, it heats up and the transfer of the design is done by hand. You'll need a Cricut machine to actually do the cutting beforehand. Don't forget to order some mugs — you'll find yourself wanting to make a whole slew of designs right off the bat.

Promising review: "This mug press is amazing, especially if you’re limited on space! Traditional heat presses with mug attachments and regular mug presses are bulky and take up a good chunk of space. I love that I can easily pack it up and put is away when I’m not using it. The mugs came out amazing! I really like that I don’t need to figure out the heat and time settings; it automatically detects the temperature of the mug, room, etc. and determines how long to press and what temperature is needed. I’ve tried it with infusible ink and sublimation and it works amazing for both!" — lindasierra

Get it from Amazon for $172.99 .

19. An embroidery kit for beginners that won't test your patience but'll provide you with a happy distraction  and a pretty piece of art at the end of it all!

Promising review:  "This was so much fun and pretty easy for a beginner. I’ve never done any embroidery so I had no idea what I was doing. I recommend looking up the different stitches on YouTube so you get an idea of how to do each one. I also made sure to sew a little outside of the pattern so that it didn’t show on the finished product. This was a fun pandemic craft...I will be purchasing another." — Mrs. Hamilton

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 .

20. Or a Nightmare Before Christmas mini cross-stitch kit if you'd love nothing more than to *live like Jack and Sally* and complete this spooktacular lil' craft while crooning "This Is Halloween" all year long.

Promising review: "This is a great kit perfect for any cross-stitch or Nightmare Before Christmas fan. It contains a booklet with instructions and four patterns, the needed thread, three pieces of canvas, the holder, and two needles. It's a really awesome set. The instructions were easy to follow, and I managed to already finish one of the designs." — witchykitty39

Get it from Amazon for $7.07 .

21. A compact, foldable treadmill for anyone who actually enjoys running but has always done so while watching old episodes of Friends  at the gym to pass the time.

BuzzFeed editor Genevieve Scarano is a huge fan of this gadget. She said:

"I've been jogging almost daily on this treadmill, and it's been a big help when it's too cold outside and most gyms are closed due to COVID-19. You can walk or jog up to 5 mph, move the handrail up or down (and yes, this means you can walk on the treadmill even with the rail *all the way down on the floor* for workouts), *and* track your daily progress in the Treadly App . Walking and running on this treadmill feels the same as other treadmills I've tried in the past (minus the up to 5 mph feature). What I love about that speed limit though is that it helps me focus on my form when I'm jogging or walking. I'm being mindful of each step and not rushing, so I really enjoy using it for workouts."

Get it from Treadly for $749 .

Check out our full review on the Treadly 2 .

22. A beginner's level blanket knitting kit to work on while you comfortably lounge on your couch and watch anime. Doesn't that sound absolutely divine?

The kit comes with three skeins of petite wool, wooden knitting needles, the sewing pattern, a small knitter's sewing needle, and an embroidered label.

Promising review: "Perfect for beginners and very easy to make! The yarn is very soft and squishy. My daughter is going to love this once I finish it. Highly recommend for beginners or any level knitter." — HLC0987

Get it from We Are Knitters for $63 (available in 15 colors).

23. An Oscar Mayer Bologna Hydrogel Sheet Face Mask that'll leave your skin feeling fresh and renewed while also eliciting endless giggles from you and your friends during your next at-home spa/movie night.

Apologies to anyone else who now has the Oscar Mayer jingle in their head. Myyyyy bologna has a first name.... it's O-S-C-A-R....

Promising review:  "This is really cute and funny, but also does work well! And, most of the beauty masks out there tend to be too big, but this one is a really good size and fits well without overlapping your hair, nostrils, eyes, mouth, etc." — MelanieW

Get it from Amazon for $4.99 .

24. A  DIY custom doormat kit to create the perfect accent piece to the front door of your apartment or home — good luck trying to convince everyone you're *not* as talented as Joanna Gaines.

It comes with a doormat, paint, paintbrushes, and a stencil that's completely customizable! MichieBarnCo is a small business based in Utah that sells wooden signs and doormats.

Get it from MichieBarnCo on Etsy for $25+ (available in four sizes).

25. An Echelon Smart Bike you can use on the "free ride" setting to get some miles in while also singing along to old episodes of Glee .

I have an Echelon bike (and so do my in-laws!) and absolutely love it. The classes are super fun and engaging, the instructors are delightful and motivational, and the soundtracks for each class are fantastic. You can select your workout type (hills, speed, a mix of a variety of things) and the type of music you feel like sweating to (pop, '80s, '90s, rock, funk, hip hop, etc!). It's genuinely a nice community and a fun way to exercise! When you're not in the mood for an actual class, the free ride option is fantastic. I always enjoyed watching movies and TV shows while on the bike at the gym, so it's been great to have the option to recreate that experience at home.

Promising review: "Due to the pandemic that limits outdoor activities. I decided to look for an indoor cardio workout machine and end up getting the Echelon bike. To my surprise assembly was a snap and performance was a 5-star. During operation the bike performs so quietly making it a perfect fit for our needs, especially living in an apartment building. I definitely recommend this bike for cardio enthusiasts and for active individuals seeking for a gymworthy bike offering a different degree of workout." — Cris

Get it from Amazon for $799.99+ (available in four styles and three colors).

26. Gold under-eye collagen masks you can wear to treat your under-eye bags while you're up late because you absolutely cannot turn off the latest season of Queer Eye .

Promising review: "These eye masks are absolutely amazing! I have hereditary dark circles under my eyes, as well as slight bags from being a mother of four. Eye creams do absolutely nothing for me, and I gave these a try just on a whim, not really expecting much. But they really work! The results aren't permanent, but I put these on for about an hour in the evening while I relax and watch TV, and my under-eyes are much lighter and less puffy. I absolutely love these eye masks, and I will never be without them again." — Kate Johnson

Get a pack of 12 pairs from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two styles).

27. A TikTok-famous pick 'n' peel stone to keep your hands busy while you mindlessly watch Netflix — it'll also prevent my fellow anxious minds from peeling or picking at their fingernails and cuticles.

PickNPeelStones is a small business based in Pittsburgh.

Promising review: "Incredible. I’m an attorney and this helps me get through phone calls and Zoom hearings with my cuticles intact. Far exceeded my expectations." — Lisa Owings

Get it from PIckNPeelStones on Etsy for $27.99 .

28. A 12-inch foam roller you'll surprisingly get a lot of use out of even if you aren't a gym rat. It's perfect for loosening the muscles in your back/legs after sitting at a desk all day (or stress-induced tension), which you can do while catching up on all the shows you recorded last week.

I have this little foam roller and use it almost every night. I roll my spine over it and it releases all the tension in a series of very satisfying cracks. Get one — add it into your pre-bedtime ritual!

Promising review: "My chiropractor recommended I buy the 36" version of this for some daily routine back stretching to do at home. This product has been amazing for stretching, and massaging sore muscles throughout my back and shoulders. I feel very supported by this roller and have had no issues with it thus far. I weigh 200 pounds and have yet to damage this roller after weeks of use. Overall very pleased with this product. And at such a great price, I honestly can't find a single negative remark to note about it." — Luke Marrs

Get it from Amazon for $10.49+ (available in four sizes and seven styles).

29. A Buddha Board  you'll be able to magically draw on then watch as your creation slips away — a great non-committal activity you certainly won't need to have your full attention on so you'll be able to focus on The Bachelor.

I gifted this to my mom and it's been such a hit! All you have to do is fill the stand with water, dip the bamboo brush in, and start creating! It's surprisingly super soothing and is great because you don't have to think long and hard about what to draw since it disappears anyways! It's a great practice in the "art of letting go" and is honestly a lovely way to spend an hour unwinding.

Promising review: "I work at a college in an environment where I am stressed out a lot, but I also have a lot of stressed out college students in my office! The Buddha Board is incredibly soothing to 'paint' on (only requires water and helps remind me that tough days will fade away just like my artwork does. Several of my coworkers have this in their office too. And, of course, it's great when you're not stressed out too — just fun to play with!" — Violet Kayjee

Get it from Amazon for $37.95 .

30. A Grogu Lego set to pair perfectly with your plans to watch  The Mandalorian  for the millionth time or for your weekly viewing of the latest addition to the legacy, The Book of Boba Fett. 

Promising review:  "Fun for the whole family! My step-son, husband, and myself had such a good time assembling this little guy. You won't regret getting this Lego set!" — Victoria Edwards

Get it from Amazon for $64 .

31. Or  a realistic globe made of Lego bricks (!!!) that'll provide you with a fun activity and  a piece of home decor — a must-have for anyone who prefers to spend their time watching various shows on the Travel Channel.

This set was designed for ages 18 and up and comes with a total of a whopping 2,585 pieces!

Promising review:  "I like this set a lot and was excited to get it the day it was released. The build itself it repetitive, which is expected since it's a globe. Really love the build of the stand and how the entire set comes together though!" — JDC16

Get it from LEGO for $199.99 .

32. A set of 300 Disney-inspired patches you can use to craft DIY denim jackets, tote bags, hats, you name it! Use 'em all on projects for yourself or make incredible gifts for all the Disney Adults in your life who you typically spend hours upon hours watching movies with.

Charmed And Cozy is a woman-owned small business based in Charleston, South Carolina that sells incredibly creative Disney-inspired accessories. I have tons of her adorable patches and stickers (one of these days I'll *finally* make a cool Disney denim jacket, I swear!).

If for some reason you don't need 300 patches (weird!) you can also hand select the ones you want and purchase them individually .

Get it from Charmed And Cozy  on Etsy for $300 .

33. And a  10-motor massage mat with two heating pads to ensure your entire body gets nice 'n' toasty while the knots are worked out of your back  — who wouldn't want to enjoy a massage while watching TV???

Promising review: "Wanted one of these after using one in our doctor's office waiting room. Was very pleased to see that the mat was of such good quality and it really works great. The control allows you to isolate specific areas or massage the whole body or any combination in between . You will not regret purchasing this item." — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $75.99 .

Congrats! Now you can feel extra productive while watching your fave shows!

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

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20 Ways to Be Productive While Watching TV

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As a busy mom, I know that it can be hard to balance everything on your plate. You’re trying to keep up with work, taking care of the kids, and maybe even squeezing in a little time for yourself. But let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just too much. So what do you do when you need to take a break but don’t want to spend the whole day vegging out in front of the TV? Here are a few tips for staying productive while watching TV.

Table of Contents

Do Some Housework

Let’s face it, there is always some sort of housework that needs to be done. Why not use the time that you’re already spending in front of the TV to knock out a few things on your to-do list ? You can fold laundry, put away dishes, or even vacuum the living room while you’re catching up on your favorite show.

Get Ahead on Work

If you work from home or have some flexibility with your work schedule, use the time that you would normally spend watching TV to get ahead on work.

You can use commercial breaks to answer emails, return phone calls, or even start working on that project that’s been sitting on your desk for weeks. Staying productive while watching TV is all about using your time wisely.

Spend Time with the Family

Use the time that you would normally spend glued to the television to connect with your family instead. Play a game, help the kids with their homework, or just have a conversation.

Staying productive doesn’t always mean crossing things off of your to-do list. Sometimes it means taking the time to enjoy the people in your life.

Get a jump start on laundry by sorting and starting a load or folding clean clothes while you watch your favorite show. 

Clean the room or house

While the TV is on, take some time to clean or organize the room you are in or even move to other rooms during commercial breaks or ads.

Work on a project step

If you’re working on a project that requires your full attention, use TV time as an opportunity to get ahead on smaller tasks related to that project. For example, if you’re painting a room, use commercial breaks to prep the walls or gather your supplies. 

Use half-hour shows as an opportunity to knock out some quick cardio by doing jumping jacks or running in place during the commercials. 

Use shows with longer run times as an opportunity to do some light stretching or yoga poses. 

Put away toys

If you are like my family and the playroom is also the family living room, take a few minutes while watch tv to put away or organize the toys.

I am a huge fan of using nice looking toy storage organizers as we have a lot of our toys in our living room. Here are some helpful toy organizers to check out for your home!

Paint nails or do some type of beauty treatment or self care

Productivity can also be relaxing if you are doing something paining your nail, doing your hair or some other type of beauty treatment.

Put together photo albums

This is one thing that tends to pile up unfinished in our house. Use a show time slot to put together those loose pictures into your family photo albums.

I like using large photo alb ums like these ones to put together about a year at a time of photos.

Catch up on emails

If you find your email inbox overflowing, multi-task while sitting on the couch by catching up on your personal or work email.

Sanitize toys or other items

Grab a sanitizing wipe or spray and clean off toys or heavily used items in the room like remotes or light switches.

Go through mail

If you haven’t gone through the mail yet, time some time to sort through the pile and organize what is trash and what needs addressed or paid.

Clean out purse

It can be very helpful to take a few minutes to clean out a purse and organize it while watching tv. Throw away garbage left in there and refill any items you often keep, like medicine, pens or tissues.

Meal plan and make a grocery list

Meal planning for this week or next is a great thing to do while watching tv. It is very productive and doesn’t necessarily require all of your attention. Afterwards, turn that meal plan into a grocery list.

If you happen to have a tv or streaming device in your kitchen, get a jump start on prepping food for the next day or rest of the week. Cut vegetables, pack lunches or even get a casserole set up to save you time later on.

Plan out tomorrows to-do list

Take a few minutes to plan out tomorrow to save some time and stress from figuring out those items first thing in the morning by creating a to-do list. Check our all of the different types of to-do lists and task trackers on Amazon .

Wrap presents

If you have holidays or birthdays coming up, get all of those gifts together and wrap all of them to get that chore out of the way.

Shop online

Need to get started on holiday shopping or use curb-side or delivery for your household items or groceries? Take time while watching TV to get that shopping done!

Do a craft or art item

have some fun while watching tv by doing some time of craft or art related project. This can be productive and also relaxing at the same time! Continue working on a in-progress craft or learn something completely new.

Go get productive while watching TV!

Next time you find yourself caught up in a marathon of your favorite show, use these tips to stay productive and get things done. Whether you’re checking items off of your to-do list or spending quality time with your family, there are plenty of ways to be productive while watching TV.

So go ahead and press play…just don’t forget to get something done too!

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75 Productive Things To Do While Binge Watching TV Shows

Once upon a time, I would diligently follow maybe a handful of shows. But, in recent years, it has become easy to watch any thing at any time , regardless of television programming and personal schedule conflicts. Now, whenever someone asks me what shows I’m currently watching on TV, it’s probably more accurate to say “all of them”. OK, so maybe that is an exaggeration, but I know I’m not alone in this. Between Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO Go (we have all of them *shamefully covers eyes*) , instant gratification has changed the way people watch television and binge watching has become a favorite hobby and pastime. With our eyes glued to the tv more than ever before (and admittedly loving every second), there is still a way to be productive while marathon-ing and plenty of things to do while watching tv.

*Posts on KelleyNan.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure*

As much as I am dying to see Jim and Pam’s relationship unfold from start to finish for the third time (any fans of The Office ?), I simply can’t justify neglecting life for hours on end unless I am also marking items off my to-do list. While I am convinced that there is little one  can’t do without carrying an iPad around and propping it on the nearest surface, I have compiled a list of easy, productive tasks to keep both your priorities and TV schedule effectively managed.

WHAT ARE SOME PRODUCTIVE THINGS TO DO WHILE WATCHING TV?

• Organize paperwork/mail
• Laundry/iron
• Cook and prepare a meal (see some of my favorite, easy recipe ideas HERE )
• Plan your menu for the week/month  (you can see my method HERE )
• Pin recipes on Pinterest  (you can follow me HERE )
• Delete emails and organize your inbox
• Organize your address book
• Play a card/board game (see my organized game cabinet & a few favorite games HERE )
• Pull out a junk drawer to organize (see my full organization project gallery HERE )
• Online shop (Check out my favorites for current deals HERE )
• Knit/craft/DIY  (Check out my DIY projects  HERE )
• Organize photos on your computer – delete and sort into folders
• Catch up on social media
• Make to-do lists
• Update your planner (one of my favs is found HERE )
• Sync your calendars
• Clean out your makeup bag/brushes – toss old/expired makeup (see my makeup drawer organization HERE )
• Clean out your closet
• Make your bed
• Create/refine a budget
• Mend holes and tears in your clothes
• Color in an adult coloring book (I love this one HERE )
• Paint your nails
• Make Christmas gift lists
• Edit photos  (My LightRoom editing tutorial can be found HERE )
• Make music playlists – road trips, workout, chill, and party mixes
• Write thank you notes
• Clean out your purse
• Scan your receipts and sort into electronic files
• Clean up your phone apps
• Dust/sweep the room you are in
• Switch out and update photos in frames
• Groom your pet
• Organize food into pantry boxes (See my organized pantry HERE )
• Arrange flowers  (you can catch my tips on creating a arrangements HERE )
• Create an inspiration board on Photoshop, PowerPoint, Pages, Olio Board, etc.
• Organize your jewelry
• Polish jewelry/silver  ( THIS is what I use)
• Take photos of magazine inspiration and toss old stacks cluttering areas around your home
• Browse real estate
• Drink wine/coffee
• Make list of home improvements and prioritize
• Have a party/dinner coming up? Brainstorm themes, menus, and guest lists (See all my entertaining and party ideas in the menu bar at the top of the page under “Browse by Category –> “Entertaining”)
• Update your Christmas card list. Bonus if you address the envelopes.
• Come up with a list of date night ideas and make online reservations
• Gather gift cards and find out balances  (You can have THESE sent directly to you)
• Pace the floor to get in your FitBit/Apple Watch steps
• Style a tray
• Order groceries/household essentials on Amazon Prime Pantry   (You can fill a box for a flat shipping rate; with each item, it shows how much space you have left in your box)
• Fill out a birthday calendar  (You can add important annual dates to THIS PERPETUAL CALENDAR  (the one I have), add as you go, and reuse each year)
• Roll change
• Brainstorm and create a blog content calendar
• Plan a vacation
• Make goodie bags
• Sign up with websites who offer surveys for cash and take them as you have time
• Wrap and organize loose cords
• Touch up paint/remove wall scuffs
• Find printables for wall art (see the gallery I created with free botanical prints HERE )
• Clean out your “Notes” on your phone
• Complete a puzzle
• Update your resume/credentials/media kit
• Test out your pens and markers and toss those which are dried
• Add physician and email addresses to your phone contacts
• Match socks and toss those without a mate
• Superglue discarded chipped items
• Put something together (boxed accent furniture)
• List items on EBay/Craigslist
• Portion bulk Costco/full sized bag snacks into single servings in baggies
• Re-lace/change laces in your sneakers
• Add key tags to your keys
• Organize medicine and first aid- discard expired (See my organized medicine and first aid HERE )

I would love to hear anything you may have to add to this list by leaving me a comment below! And, just in case your list of to-dos now outweighs your DVR or episodes left in your current series, you can check out my favorite series HERE .

A FEW RELATED POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY

• Favorite Shows to Binge Watch (something for everyone)
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19 Comments

Kelley Nan, GREAT list of tasks to be productive and yet keep up with the latest shows we are all interested in! THANKS!

Great ideas I love the one about pre doing the addresses on the Christmas cards great idea!!

Annabelle, I am so glad! Planning ahead for that crazy time of year definitely helps!

I love this list! And I totally dance/march around the living room to get my steps in. LOL I remember back before we had dvr’s/netflix/roku etc. I would quickly work on things during commercials. Now if I sit down to watch TV I make sure I have at least one thing with me to work on. 🙂

Yes, Heather! We are basically soul mates 😉

My personal favorite is #41!! Right baby?

Haha! I’ll get right on that 😉

Now THAT’S a list! Of course, #55 is my personal favorite… haha. Always the multi-tasker. Great job Kel!

Tana haha- It really has become one of my favs! 😉

Oh my…this is a fabulous list. I do some, but need to get to the rest. So agree with your number one bing watch. ..and number two…and number three…

We are so in sync! I love it- thanks for giving me my #1!

Awesome list! I can do #’s 56,57 and 62 while binge watching Scandal!???

Awesome! I am usually cooking or doing laundry during that one 😉

Love this!! So excited to finally get a chance to visit your blog and I must say I’ll be back!! It’s full of useful content delivered in a fun way! Congrats Girl ?????‍❤️‍??

Julie! Thank you so very much for stopping in, my friend! It means so much. Thank YOU for all of your gorgeous inspiration xo

Do some yin yoga holding long poses for a stretch

Hi Jim, That’s a great productive thing to do. Thanks for the input!

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11 things you didn't know your smart TV could do

Your smart TV can do more than you think, making you healthier, happier, and doing a lot more than watching shows

We've gone from the idiot box to smart TVs, so why does it feel like more of the same, but with Wi-Fi?

Today's TV entertainment world is broader and deeper than it has ever been before. Completely free streaming services give you hours and hours of shows and movies, with linear and on-demand programming. Paid streaming services offer huge libraries that range from old favorites to the latest Emmy and Academy Award winning originals. And every major channel or media company is jumping on the streaming bandwagon, putting vast back catalogs of content onto their own branded services. The amount of TV that you can watch on your smart TV is pretty astounding.

But what if you want to do more with your TV? The best TVs have all of the capability of the internet and the processing power needed for interaction and apps, so why does it feel like the idiot box is just as stupid as ever?

• The best TVs , tested and reviewed
• Still shopping? Everything you need to know about buying a TV
• PLUS: Kill cable: These streaming services have the most popular channels

Well, the good news is that smart TVs are actually a great deal smarter than most people assume. And while shows and movies are the obvious use case for the center of home entertainment, it's not all your smart TV can do.

Just like your smartphone or laptop, your smart TV can do a whole lot. Going beyond entertainment, smart TVs have functionality that extends to education, productivity, home automation, fitness, mental health, and much more.

Don't believe me? We've put together a sampling of some of the smartest things you can do with a smart TV. It's not a comprehensive list, and it's definitely not exhaustive, with new capabilities coming to TVs all the time. But it gives you a good idea of how much more your smart TV can really do.

A note about TV brands and smart TV software

The TV world is a competitive one, with the best TV brands jockeying to find a place in your home. Smart features offer a huge opportunity for one smart TV to stand out in an aisle of nearly identical looking 4K TVs, so manufacturers have done a lot to drive the smarter side of smart TVs, adding new capabilities, expanding app selections and providing exclusive features. Some TV makers have developed proprietary smart TV platforms (like LG's webOS, or Samsung's Tizen) while others turn to big names like Roku, Google and Amazon.

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But they aren't all exactly alike, and one app may be available on some TVs but not on another. Exclusive features may be unique to one TV brand, but the broader functionality can also be found on other sets (though it may take an extra step or two).

That's all to say that most of the capabilities below can be found on most of the best smart TVs out there, whether it's one of the best Samsung TV s, the best Roku TV s, or one of the latest sets with Google TV . And if an app we've highlighted isn't available on your TV's app store, don't give up hope! You can probably find an equivalent service, or use common functions like screen casting from your phone or tablet to put new apps and services on the big screen.

Replace your smart speaker

The majority of smart TVs offer some kind of voice control for searching content and controlling basic TV functions, but quite a few of them go above and beyond, offering Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on the TV.

That means that you can use your smart TV's voice input for all sorts of things – most let you speak into the remote, but a few have room-listening microphones for hands-free voice input. With a simple "Hey, Google" or "Alexa!" you can search for news headlines, check stock values, get questions answered and even get a bedtime story told to your kid.

Check out some of the best Alexa skills and best Google Home commands to get a look at what those voice assistants can really do. 

Control your smart home devices

We've already discussed how you can use Alexa and Google Assistant from your TV, and by linking your smart TV to your Alexa or Google Assistant accounts, you can control a whole house full of smart home gadgets right from your TV.

But what does that mean? What sort of devices can you control and what's improved by adding your smart TV to the mix? For starters, pretty much anything found on our lists of the best smart home devices or best cheap smart home devices can be controlled from your TV.

That means you can control the lighting in your house with a command. You can check the camera feed from your video doorbell or home security camera , turn power on or off on a smart plug , unlock the front door with a smart lock , and even open and close the garage door. With so many smart appliances in our homes, you can also find plenty of refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers with smart features that can all be tied into your TV, making it the center of an array of smart home devices.

You can even make your movie watching better with a few clever smart home additions. Dim the lights with a few of the best smart light bulbs or smart light switches . Spill some popcorn or chips while watching a movie? Call in a robot vacuum to clean it up. And if you don't want to interrupt your Netflix binge to make dinner, you can even order food right from your smart TV through Uber Eats or Doordash. 

Stream music, podcasts and audiobooks

There are plenty of ways to listen to music these days, but one you might have forgotten is your smart TV. If you want music without music videos, there are plenty of options for streaming music in high quality, and often for free. And music isn't the only thing you can listen to. Podcasts and audiobooks are another great use of those TV speakers or soundbar, letting you listen to your favorite podcasters on the best speakers in the house. 

Available for every major smart TV platform (LG, Samsung, Android, Roku and Fire TV), Pandora provides personalized music streaming, with both free and ad-free premium account options.

Spotify offers even more control, letting you pick and choose from a massive 70 million song catalog of music, browsing by artists, albums, songs and playlists. You can also listen to podcasts, as Spotify has grown to become a leading source of podcasts, as well. Spotify is available for LG, Samsung, Google TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TVs.

You can even listen to audiobooks on your smart TV. Amazon Fire TVs have an exclusive  app for the Amazon-owned Audible (which tops the list of the best audiobook apps ), but other smart TVs can also play audiobooks by casting from your phone to the TV through Chromecast, Airplay, and other sharing methods. 

Make video calls

If you've got a USB webcam and a smart TV, chances are good that you can video chat with people right on your TV, without having to fuss with a laptop. Smart TVs have started adding support for some of the best video chat apps , with simple calling and controls that let you skip the keyboard and mouse.

Google TVs from Sony and TCL offer built-in Google Duo support, while Amazon's new Fire TV Omni models will also have Zoom support. With simple video-first interfaces and controls adapted to TV remote controls and voice commands, these video calling services make it easy to get in touch with family and friends right from your couch, and get a little face-to-face time in, even when nobody lives nearby.

Check the weather

With a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant, you can simply ask what the weather is like and get a quick update that includes current temperature and weather conditions.

But there's another option for smart TV users, who want to check the current weather and a short term forecast, but may not want to spend their time watching the Weather Channel. Apps like AccuWeather (one of the best weather apps ) provide localized weather information, complete with a 10-day forecast, in an attractive format that looks great on the larger screen. AccuWeather is available for LG, Samsung and Android/Google TVs. 

Fitness classes

Your TV doesn't have to make you a couch potato. Every smart TV platform has a selection of fitness related apps that offer streamed classes and fitness advice.

Simply searching for "fitness" in your TV's app store will pull up plenty of workout options, but the specifics will vary considerably depending upon your brand of smart TV. Some, like LG, have their own apps, like LG Fitness, while other popular apps will be available on some TVs but not others.

A few popular favorites include Daily Burn (available on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs), Peloton (Google/Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire) and Beachbody On Demand (Roku and Fire TV).

Samsung's most recent TVs take this even further, with Samsung Health tying an array of fitness activities and apps to your Samsung smartphone, smartwatch, and other devices. There's even the option to connect a webcam for AI-driven fitness classes that can critique your technique and automatically pause if you have to leave the room. Samsung also has a number of exclusive fitness smart TV apps included as part of Samsung Health.

Your smart TV can help keep your mind fit as well, with a number of apps and streaming services offering guided meditation. Granted, meditation can be enjoyed without any TVs or devices, but for those who need a little help – and the popularity of these apps suggest that's a lot of folks – it's nice to have the option to have your smart TV calm things down a bit.

Samsung TVs include the popular Calm app, and there are options to be found by searching for "meditation" in any smart TV app store. Many of the best relaxation apps have TV apps, so be sure to check if your favorite can be found in your TV app store.

But you might not need a new app. Netflix, in collaboration with popular meditation app Headspace, has a trio of interactive titles focused on meditation , relaxation , and sleep , respectively. Each includes several short episodes that share science-backed information and walks you through exercises that are great for beginners and long-time users alike. 

Cook up a meal

Your smart TV can help out in the kitchen, too. While cooking shows have been a staple of TV programming for as long as TVs have been in people's homes, smart TVs offer a lot of useful features for any amateur chef.

Using a TV's built-in voice assistant, you can ask for nutritional information or even get recipe recommendations, complete with step-by-step instructions. You can also find substitute ingredients, add ingredients to your grocery list, set reminders to use things before they expire, and set timers so that you don't overcook anything. You can even control smart kitchen appliances, letting you start preheating the oven before you get off the couch.

There are also many food-related apps just waiting to find a home on your TV. One of the most widely offered is iFood.tv (Available on LG, Samsung, Roku and Amazon Fire TV),  which offers both cooking shows to sit back and watch and a catalog of more than 40,000 recipe videos to follow.

Other big names in cooking have dedicated TV apps, like Bon Appétit (Android, Roku and Fire TV), Food Network Kitchen (Android, Roku and Fire TV) and Kitchen Stories (Android and Fire TV.)

 Get some work done

With so many of us working from home, it's no stretch to look longingly at your smart TV as a big screen alternative to the tiny display on a laptop. And there are several options for doing just that!

Samsung has a special "PC on TV" mode that wirelessly casts your PC to the TV, for use as a second monitor. However, Samsung's wireless display feature requires installing and setting up an app on your PC or Mac. Samsung even offers a version of Microsoft 365 that's optimized for working on the TV.

TVs with built in Chromecast, such as Sony and TCL Google TV models, Hisense Android TV and Vizio SmartCast TVs, will all let you cast wirelessly to your TV using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge .

AirPlay support is also available on many smart TVs, and with it, you can mirror your iPhone or Mac on the TV screen. 

But even without an app for casting or mirroring your laptop on the bigger screen, you always have the option of connecting to a TV over HDMI, and using your TV as a larger monitor for productive work. Just keep in mind that not all laptops have a full HDMI port these days – you may need to find an adapter. They're available for mini- and micro-HDMI, USB-C, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort connections.

Brian Westover is currently Lead Analyst, PCs and Hardware at PCMag. Until recently, however, he was Senior Editor at Tom's Guide, where he led the site's TV coverage for several years, reviewing scores of sets and writing about everything from 8K to HDR to HDMI 2.1. He also put his computing knowledge to good use by reviewing many PCs and Mac devices, and also led our router and home networking coverage. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he wrote for TopTenReviews and PCMag.

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Can Watching TV While Working Benefit Your Productivity?

Which type of worker are you — the one who works better in a peaceful silence or the one that enjoys working with a little bit of background noise? 

Turns out that more than half of employees in the U.S. are putting on TV shows during work hours. In fact, survey data show that remote workers spend approximately 5 hours watching television while doing their daily tasks.

In this article, together we’ll explore why putting on a TV show while doing your work can actually increase your productivity, as well as take a look at some of the best broadcasts you can put on as background noise.

What’s the science behind TV noise and productivity?

Sure, it can seem like a silly thought at first because in schools we’ve always been taught that we can only focus in silence. But research has shown that having the right amount of background noise can significantly help you with generating creative ideas and increasing your productivity levels.

This is related to the phenomenon called stochastic resonance . It was first investigated on animals to see how their sensory signals can be enhanced by noise and how can noise improve behavior in different animals.

Likewise, research in humans showed how we tend to respond to different sound manipulations — and it was concluded that a certain level of noise allows people to feel, hear and even see better, therefore increasing our performance. But we have to keep in mind that too much noise can have the exact opposite effect, degrading our productivity.

Source: Pexels

What type of TV programs should you use as background noise?

With that being said, your work efficiency won’t boost if you decide to turn on the TV and then watch your favourite shows — that just won’t accomplish your tasks. But sometimes music can also be somewhat distracting for many of us, that’s why turning on your TV as background noise might be the best solution for you.

But, just like with certain types of music, not every TV broadcast can benefit your productivity, so let’s have a look at some of the best TV channels to put on for your micro distraction, shall we?

Replay your favourite TV shows

For this one to work, you have to choose a TV show or series that you’ve already watched multiple times before, therefore you already know the plot of the series and wouldn’t want to turn your head to the TV and watch them.

TV shows like “The Simpsons”, “The Office”, or “Friends” could be some of the best options — you might find not only a sense of nostalgia but comfort as well, hearing the voices of everybody’s favourite characters.

Don’t put on a show that you’ve been waiting to watch but haven’t yet! That will for sure distract you, and you won’t achieve anything — you will neither see the long-awaited series nor complete your tasks. Save that for your evening “me-time”!

Turn on a news channel

Another program you can put on as background noise for both in the office and at home is the news channel. 

If you’re the type of person that likes to keep yourself in the loop of what’s going on around the world, the best time to catch up with the important events is the morning, as you sip your breakfast coffee.

After that, the majority of the news broadcasted during the day is essentially rehashes of what’s already been broadcast in the early morning. Throughout the day, there will be updates and perhaps some local breaking news. However, for the most part, it’s just new thoughts and angles on the same issues.

The trick is to turn the sound down low, so you get the same background chattering vibe as if you were in a cafe.

Turn to some cooking channel

Another great broadcast you can put on your TV while you’re working is a cooking show. If you like to go to a cafe to work on your papers, food networks might work the best for you as it creates a similar feeling as if you were in a cafe.

Sounds of boiling water, pan clanking, water running from a faucet, frying and chopping mixed with a constantly talking, yet suiting voice make the perfect modest background sound that’s not distracting at all.

And it even has more bonuses — you might subliminally get some great ideas for your evening dinner along the way!

You can even put on a weather channel

This works very similarly to the news channel — once you’ve got the hint of what the weather is going to be throughout the day in the morning news, you won’t feel the need to pay special attention to the broadcast.

Using the weather channel somewhere in the background on a low volume allows you to concentrate on your work while hearing voices in the background repeating the forecast or meteorological facts.

It’s easy to let information fade into the background when it’s about something you don’t necessarily care about or need to pay attention to.

The only suitable time for an infomercial channel

Let’s face it — who enjoys watching all the Top-Shop-type of commercials? It is super annoying when they interrupt the show we’re watching, leaving us on a cliffhanger. So most of us have already learned to “blackout” when the commercial breaks start.

But did you know that there are even separate channels dedicated to those long infomercials? Now is the time to use your ability to fade your attention away from it, using the voices from the infomercials as your background noise for increasing your work efficiency.

Just turn on the channel, turn down the volume, and watch the magic happen, as you automatically shift your focus from listening to the broadcast to your tasks!

Keep in mind — background noises might not work for you

If you find yourself struggling even more when you turn on the TV, the alternative, you can also try out, is putting on suitable background music. In fact, we’ve made a whole separate blog article on different types of music for different tasks , so feel free to check it out as well!

But maybe you learn that all types of sounds make you distracted, especially if you’re trying to accomplish some verbal tasks — then silence may be the best option for you!

Though, it is important that you test all the possible ways of boosting your productivity if you find yourself struggling by doing the same exact routine again and again. 

LUXAFOR HELPS PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GREATEST PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF OFFICE PRODUCTS. LET’S BE PRODUCTIVE TOGETHER!

Do you want to build and maintain new habits? Get your free PDF version of the Don't Break The Chain calendar and start today!

Author's bio.

Jessica Chapman is a writing editor from Chicago who enjoys traveling. She works with  Australian Writings , and  if you need programming assignment help , she is the best person you can ask. She is also into politics and sports.

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