Comedy & Laughter: Mental Health Daily Apple #Streamteam #Ad @Netflix_CA

If Laughter is the Best Medicine, and An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure,

then Netflix is like an Apple a Day for my kids' mental health. 

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special perks for my participation, posts and sharing. 

All opinions are my own.

That was then ...
When my kids were young my husband and I made a conscious decision to limit the number of activities we enrolled them in at any given time. We wanted a balance between interesting learning opportunities, physical fitness, school and family time. To allow our kids to prioritize school, have sufficient personal downtime, ensure we could regularly shared meals together as a family, and for both my own and my kids' mental health and well-being, activities during the school year were limited to 2 activities per week (one learning, one sports). This was relatively easy to do when they were younger, with both often were enrolled in the same activities.

This is now ...
Flash forward 10 years and my kids are young adults. Their schedules are full, putting the demands on their time into overload. Both are in post-secondary programs, and Thing 2 now lives in his own apartment. The challenge of juggling university and college studies, work, friends, and their various other responsibilities has dramatically increased, making personal downtime even more important for managing stress and mental health. But, it can be tough to do when their schedules barely allow for meals, far less family meals, and their downtime comes is short and irregular pockets of time. 

Assuming laughter is the best medicine ...
So assuming the old adage "Laughter is the best medicine" is true, then downtime spent watching an episode of one's favourite comedy would be the equivalent to an apple a day for mental health. Given that my kids can stream or even download episodes of their favourite comedies on Netflix to fit their schedules, I believe it's just what the doctor ordered. Like the recommended hour of physical activity per day, an episode or two of a favourite show per day is good for one's overall well-being. What's nice about Netflix is that like apples there are so many different types and varieties to choose from, and my kids can watch anytime, anywhere, and on a variety of devices. 

Please Note: My kids are adults and no longer fall under parental controls when it comes to their viewing choices. Their choices may not be to your (or my) taste or appropriate for you or your family. Most of these shows are intended for mature and adult audiences, so please refer to individual show ratings and synopsis to determine if they are appropriate for you. 

So what does Thing 2 like to stream at 2 am for a break from studying for his Physics, Calculus, or Core Engineering exams?

• The STANDUPS  (TV-MA) (Netflix Original Series)
• That 70's Show (TV-14)
• Freaks and Geeks (TV-14)
• The Office US (TV-14) or The Office UK (NR but the funnier of the two IMHO)
• The IT Crowd (TV-14)
• Community (PG)

And what does Thing 1 stream when he needs a break from memorizing lines, writing scripts, or editing video for school? 

• Arrested Development (PG) (Netflix Original Series)
• Archer (TV-MA)
• No Tomorrow (TV-PG)
• Video Game High School (TV-14)
• Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV-PG)
• The Guild (TV-14)

And what do these brothers stream during their "beer and bonding" time when Thing 1 stays over at Thing 2's apartment on a Friday night? 

• BoJack Horseman (TV-MA) (Netflix Original Series)
• How I Met Your Mother (PG)
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine (TV-14)
• Family Guy (TV-MA)
• American Dad (TV-14 but IMHO should be TV-MA)
• Shameless US (TV-MA) or Shameless UK (TV-14)

Do tell ... What's your favourite Netflix laughter apple variety?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about laughter, mental health, and Netflix.