Don’t Feel Bad for Indulging in ‘Guilty Pleasures’ During the Pandemic
It can help you feel more connected and fulfilled, according to researchers
In these trying times, all of us have indulged in our favorite pastimes a little more than we used to. We’re binge-watching Netflix shows in a day, playing more video games, and eating mac and cheese five days in a row. When we’re stuck at home — some of us away from family and friends — these are some things that we turn to for comfort.
However, indulging in these activities sometimes makes us feel guilty. I know I did. But I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to. In fact, that’s what science is telling you too.
A recent study (cleverly titled From “love actually” to love, actually: The sociometer takes every kind of fuel) compared the effectiveness of traditional ways to fulfill one’s social needs (e.g. spending time with family or romantic partner) versus non- traditional ways (e.g. listening to music, playing video games) of fulfilling social needs. They found that non-traditional means were just as effective as traditional ones.
This is enlightening especially during the coronavirus pandemic, where we have to practice social distancing and can’t hang out with our friends and family.
