What to Watch on Netflix Next Time You’re Feeling Stressed | cpvvalves.com

What to Watch on Netflix Next Time You’re Feeling Stressed

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Figuring out what to watch on Netflix—between the seemingly infinite number of options and distracting auto-play trailers—can be stressful. Add that to the stress that drove you to seek out something soothing, delightful, and distracting to watch in the first place, and you’ve just got…more stress. No one wants that. 

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best movies and shows to watch on Netflix for moments when you need to unwind and decompress. Because you’re not actually relaxing if you’re stressing over the thousands of streaming choices, now are you? 

Before we dive into our recommendations, a short note on the importance and validity of taking a moment to check out when you need it: We’ve written before about how distracting yourself can be a useful coping mechanism. “Some people do need a mental reset,” Andrea Bonior, PhD, psychologist, author of Detox Your Thoughts, and faculty member at Georgetown University, previously told SELF. We also dove into breaking down what rest really looks like, and honestly? It can be as straightforward as zoning out to mindless TV. (If you’re reading this and thinking, I can’t remember the last time I did that, check this out first, and then come back to this article.) 

Exactly what type of show or movie you’ll find relaxing can totally vary from person to person. It’s also important to remember that, no, you do not need to keep watching something that you aren’t enjoying. If you try something and it’s not helping you chill, turn it off and find something else! (More on that here.) Over time, I’ve discovered that I prefer a wide range of genres, from HGTV classics to the neat-and-tidy plotlines of procedurals, while friends of mine rely on irreverent reality TV like the Great British Baking Show as a tried-and-true way to unwind. So think of this list as a choose-your-own-adventure: pick one, pick two, or pick 10! No matter what you watch, do your best to chill out—because you, my friend, deserve it. 

1. The Chef Show 

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In The Chef Show, Jon Favreau chats with his celebrity pals and earnestly learns cooking techniques, making us forget that he’s an extremely rich and powerful Hollywood guy (and not just a nice man who wants to get better at dicing) one episode at a time. This is a great show for anyone who enjoys food, the restaurant industry, the Marvel Comic Universe, and dad humor.

2. Arrested Development 

You may have seen Arrested Development before—I doubt I’m the first to recommend it to you. Even if you have, there’s always something comforting about checking in with the Bluth family and discovering that, yep, they’re still a great big mess. While you won’t need to stay as glued to the screen as you would for a drama or a thriller, a second watch comes with plenty of benefits—there are many subtle in-jokes and running gags you might have missed the first time around. If you’re an AD virgin, don’t hold back: Do yourself a favor and watch this show. The first time I did, I laughed so hard I cried.  

3. Seinfeld 

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Seinfeld can act as the perfect antidote to your stress by presenting you with the far more outrageous anxieties, complaints, and general maladies of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer. It is also laugh-out-loud funny, even when you think you’ve got not a laugh left to spare. (Seinfeld stans, that joke was for you.) While you can watch the episodes chaotically out of order and have them still make sense, the show is best watched in sequence so that you can really appreciate each character’s arc—and pivot your focus from what’s freaking you out in real life to just how consumable, enjoyable, and inconsequential each 20-minute episode is. 

4. The Great British Baking Show

The Great British Baking Show is an immediate go-to for many: Between the British accents and the yummy-looking desserts, it’s delightful and entertaining. While it’s technically a competition show, there’s something soothing about its approach, which is ultimately not very competitive at all. “It’s so innocent,” a friend of mine previously said. “I love every second of it.” 

5. Girlfriends 

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Sex and the City, step aside. Girlfriends, a sitcom that originally aired on UPN in 2000, follows four Black women as they navigate modern life and love in their thirties. You might notice a familiar face—hello, Tracee Ellis Ross—though you’re sure to fall in love with the rest of the girlfriends, too.

6. Gilmore Girls

“Elder millennials” might recall Gilmore Girls from its time as an after-school WB mainstay. Netflix has given the show a second wind—and everybody’s loving it. It’s family-friendly (for young teens and above) and the perfect cozy watch for when you’re glued to the couch with your people and don’t have the energy to do anything else besides watch TV. Plus, who doesn’t want to wander around Stars Hollow for an hour or two?

7. Dream Home Makeover 

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If mindlessly watching HGTV is your medicine, then head to Netflix and hop on the Dream Home Makeover bandwagon. Shea and Syd McGee help clients create their, well, dream homes. No vision is too big for this Utah-based husband-and-wife home design team—whose own home, prominently featured in the series as well—is Instagram-picture-perfect. 

8. The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Trilogy

Perhaps the best teen love story in the past decade, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and its consequential sequels, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and To All the Boys: Always and Forever, will make you happy, nostalgic, and, yes, all warm and fuzzy on the inside. It’s another great intergenerational watch—because who can’t relate to chasing after your first big crush (and your first big love)?

9. Sister, Sister

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For many of us, Sister, Sister is comforting in nostalgia alone. The show’s setting and wardrobe takes you instantly back to the ’90s, when life felt a little bit simpler. But the humor, plotlines, and sweet sibling shenanigans that Tia and Tamara Mowry get into as the Landry/Campbell twins still hold up, too. Lucky for us, all six seasons are on Netflix, so you can give it a full watch from start to finish to properly appreciate this classic sitcom in all of its glory. 

10. The Crown 

To put it gently, the British royal family has proven to be a continued source of interest over the last several years. The Crown, a historical drama that begins with the inauguration of Queen Elizabeth II in the 1940s and goes all the way up to the life and times of Princess Diana, provides some lovely historical escapism—and, perhaps, some context. 

11. Korean Pork Belly Rhapsody

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Vegetarians, turn away. If you love Korean BBQ or just want to watch people wax poetic about the history, economic and cultural significance, and mass appeal of a specific cut of meat, we simply cannot think of a better or more relaxing mood piece. Described as “a love letter to pork belly,” this two-part event takes you on a journey to Korea through the beloved dish’s modern history.   

12. The Good Place 

The Good Place changed the 2010s television landscape by demonstrating what a purely delightful, tastefully intellectual show looks like. It’s not a sitcom, and it’s not a drama. It’s a comedy, but it’s more than that too. It’s about life, death, and who we want to be…yet it manages to be a relaxing watch in the process. All four seasons of the show are currently on Netflix, so run, don’t walk, to this fan favorite. (Episodes are only 22 minutes too, which is a plus.)

13. Shameless

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Meet the Gallaghers, a rough-and-tumble family helmed by single dad, Frank (portrayed by the indelible William H. Macy). Shameless is as crass and cringe-y as it is touching, funny, and deep. If you’re the type who likes to get out of your head when feeling anxious and exhausted, it might help you think less and laugh more. There are 11 seasons, so you’ll really get to know and love the characters—as so many have over the last 12 years.

14. Derry Girls 

Derry Girls follows five high school students at a Catholic school in Derry, Northern Ireland, as they navigate their teen years amidst the backdrop of the Troubles, the almost-30-year nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland. It’s three seasons long, and absolutely delightful. You could watch endless hours of the Irish teens getting into ridiculous situations. Funny and heartfelt, it’s the best kind of comfort watch.

15. Sparking Joy With Marie Kondo

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If you’re ever feeling like your life is a mess, tune into Sparking Joy With Marie Kondo, where the famous organizational genius enters the homes of real people and helps them tidy up both physically and emotionally. You’re sure to get inspired to clear out your own life after watching this series. And if you, like me, gain loads of satisfaction from an extreme before-and-after transformation, you’re sure to be at ease with Kondo and her skills. 

16. Avatar: The Last Airbender 

This Nickelodeon series—not at all related to the James Cameron films—is just as good today as it was when it aired 18 years ago. In fact, all this time later, you might just appreciate the genius of the characters and worldbuilding even more. Since Avatar: The Last Airbender is only 22 minutes per episode—and, again, technically made for children, though it’s well-reviewed by people of all ages—it’s a show you could easily watch without feeling like you need to dedicate all of your time to it, which often becomes its own form of stress.

17. Song Exploder 

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Every episode of this show outlines the production of a single song, breaking it down to its elements and illustrating precisely why said song slaps. It sounds and looks cool—a true sensory experience that will take you out of your present moment and into something fresh and engrossing. Our advice? Start with the Dua Lipa episode.

18. Animal

This four-part series is narrated by Bryan Cranston, Rashida Jones, Rebel Wilson, and Pedro Pascal, each episode covering a different sector of the animal kingdom. The footage is astounding, and watching it reminds you of the bigger picture. It’s an especially good option if you find nature, or the outdoors, calming, but for any reason can’t or don’t want to leave the comfort of your home. 

19. Jane the Virgin

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The wild telenovela plot lines and vibrant Miami backdrop of Jane the Virgin are pure fantasy, but the show is grounded in relatable characters and their very real emotions. It’s both an escape and a comfort—exactly what might help calm your nervous system and remind you that it’s all going to be okay (even when it isn’t).

20. Glow 

When Glow first aired, one of our editors finished the entire season in a day. A day! It’s a historical fiction take on the 1980s wrestling franchise Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. And honestly, there’s nothing like watching Alison Brie and a bunch of other dynamic women kick butt in the ring. 

21. Wet Hot American Summer Collection

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Relive your summer camp days with this all-American cult-classic franchise. While the original movie (Wet Hot American Summer) is no longer available to watch on Netflix, its two subsequent Netflix original spinoff series, First Day of Camp and Ten Years Later, are both still streaming. There’s nothing like farcical humor to calm the mind.

22. Riverdale

This CW show is part-murder mystery and part-high school drama, so while it was definitely created with the teens in mind, people of all ages love it, and for very good reason. There’s sex, there’s fantasy, there’s money, there are evil forces, and there are really good-looking cheerleaders. Need I say more?

23. New Girl

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New Girl is another show that continues to live on in popularity for years after its series finale. The premise is brilliant: A nutty teacher, Jess (played by Zooey Deschanel) moves into an apartment with three male roommates—each of whom is nutty in his own right, too. It’s charming, heartwarming, and ultimately lovable—a very cute sitcom, if you will. 

24. The Kominsky Method 

If you’re dealing with a hearty dose of existentialist anxiety, perhaps you skip this one. But if you are also a fan of Grace and Frankie, The Golden Girls, or any other show about getting older, this comedy-drama will warm your heart. I personally find comfort in stories about aging people; my motto is if they can get through it, then I can too. Alan Arkin, who filmed the show throughout his mid-to-late 80s, and Michael Douglas play a pair of old, successful friends in Hollywood. It’s part voyeuristic—as you live vicariously through these two rich old men—but their friendship is sweet, and their grumpy personalities sweeter. 

25. I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

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In bite-sized episodes (some as short as 12 minutes), comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Tim Robinson delivers totally weird, totally absurd sketch comedy. It may take you a few episodes to really appreciate his comedic, erm, flavor, but if you’re into it, chances are you’ll be really into it with this fan favorite. 

26. Community

Community, like many other overlooked sitcoms of the aughts, has gained popularity with a new generation of viewers thanks to its addition to the Netflix library. The all-star ensemble cast (Alison Brie, Chevy Chase, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Gillian Jacobs, and Joel McHale, amongst others) plays a group of community college students, as the show’s title suggests. Of course, it’s hilarious. Think The Office, 30 Rock, etc. 

27. Fireplace for Your Home: Birchwood Edition

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Hear me out: A TV fireplace can go a long way in making your space more relaxing. Yes, it sounds corny. And yes, it’s obviously fake. But don’t knock it ’til you try it: There’s something genuinely comforting about seeing a cozy hearth light up your room and hearing the sounds of crackling wood. So turn on your fire and take a deep breath.

28. Survivor

Survivor is another show whose renaissance occurred after parts of its catalog became available on Netflix. Well, the reviews are in, and everyone seems to think it’s positively addicting. As it’s full of physically stressful challenges and endless mind games, it may not seem like an obvious choice for your destressing venture—but it just might just do the trick in shutting out the noise of the rest of your world.

29. Extraordinary Attorney Woo 

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This heartwarming South Korean drama follows Woo Young Woo, a young lawyer with Asperger’s syndrome, as she navigates her sheer brilliance—along with some awkward social encounters—in her role at a top law firm. The show received a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so don’t hesitate to watch—especially if you like legal dramas and characters you’ll want to root for. 

30. Queer Eye

I was reluctant to hop on the Queer Eye train when the show first resurrected itself on Netflix in 2018. After a while, I gave in, and on a rainy Sunday I curled up on the couch with my mom and quickly went through an entire season, inhaling each episode back-to-back. It’s a feel-good show that manages to be both mindless and mindful viewing; the “Fab Five” help someone (usually, a Very Good Person with an incredible backstory) level up their life and self-care skills. Prepare for tears. 

31. Selling Sunset

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Categorized on Netflix as a “docusoap,” Selling Sunset is a reality TV hit that follows a group of residential real estate agents in LA who cater to the rich and famous. It’s like Real Housewives meets The Apprentice, and it is the ultimate brain-numbing agent. 

32. Moesha 

Yet another excellent 90s sitcom, Moesha follows the show’s eponymous lead, played by RnB icon Brandy. Moesha lives with her widowed father, goes to high school with her endearing group of friends, and navigates relatable (and sometimes serious) issues like sex, dating, and family riffs. The format is comforting (I love a show that alternates between three or four stage sets, max) and the outfits are simply too good. 

33. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 

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Sleeper hit Crazy Ex-Girlfriend aired from 2015-2019 on the CW. While its four seasons didn’t generate much media buzz, critics nevertheless applauded the musical-comedy for its smart, witty, laugh-out-loud humor, orchestrated by the show’s star and creator, Rachel Bloom. Here’s the premise: A smart lawyer who lives with depression, anxiety, and ultimately a host of other relatable mental health conditions (no spoilers!) leaves her high-pressure job in New York and chases a former boyfriend back to California. She’s impulsive, she hallucinates, and her uncanny illustrations of what goes on inside the human brain are so spot on and so, so funny. 

34. The Hills

Here’s a throwback. If you didn’t know that The Hills is on Netflix, now you do. (Well, seasons one and two are, at least.) Tune out to the sounds of Lauren, Heidi, Whitney, and Audrina bickering about their boyfriends and internships, which aged just as wonderfully as you’d hope it would. 

35. Heartstopper

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This coming-of-age half-hour TV dramedy has already been renewed for seasons two and three—so you better start catching up now. In the heartfelt series, teenaged Charlie forms feelings for Nick, his high school’s star rugby player (who is, presumably, straight). Their journey of self-discovery, love, and mutual understanding quickly became a viral sensation when the show aired in 2022, and makes the perfect pleasant distraction for your worries and fears. In fact, it might just convince you that it’s all going to be okay. 

36. Friday Night Lights 

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. Friday Night Lights follows the Dillon High football team in rural West Texas. Based on a nonfiction book about a similar high school football team, the 45-minute ensemble cast drama has its fair share of tough and heart-wrenching moments, all anchored in the small town’s tight knit community. It’s hard not to get attached to these jocks, their friends and families, and the coach who pushes them forward. After watching all five seasons, you’ll feel like you’re part of the team. 

37. Zoey 101

Take the trip back to the Pacific Coast Academy with Zoey, Chase, and their wacky group of friends. I’ll never forget watching this Nickelodeon show as a kid and wishing my life was a little more like theirs at the sunny coastal boarding school where wild science experiments abound, the sushi is plentiful, and each night seems like a slumber party with your best friends. Today, it provides just as much of an escapist fantasy, if not for the teenage life you wished you had, but a different era of the 2000s altogether. 

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