Going to the movies. Reading a book. Watching a favorite television show. Like many people, I find these activities to be three of my favorite simple pleasures of life.

But sadly, we sometimes beat ourselves up for doing those things. We’re constantly telling ourselves that we have to be productive, that we shouldn’t waste time. We tell ourselves that we shouldn’t watch television when we could be doing so much else.

But sometimes watching television might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Why? Because it’s enjoyable.

Addicts and former addicts struggle with the concept of enjoyable. For addicts, drug and alcohol use might have once been enjoyable, but their use becomes physical and mental addictions. Addictions steal the joy from addicts’ lives, even the joy that they once experienced from alcohol and drug abuse.

Once recovered, former addicts look to restore joy in their lives. Since they’re no longer abusing alcohol and drugs, they probably have more time, energy, and money to enjoy new pursuits. That’s where watching television fits in to this.

Watching television or reading a book can be restorative. These activities can distract us. They can provide a physical and mental break from work, chores, or other more strenuous activities.

Of course, that’s not to say that we should go overboard and spend all of our time watching television or reading. There’s some debate as to whether certain activities (such as playing video games) can be addictive. Whether they are or not, it’s safer to say that spending all of our time doing just one thing can be harmful, whether it’s watching television, exercising, or working.

We certainly don’t want to swap one addiction for another. But a little television, a little reading, a movie here and there—none of those can hurt us. It’s so much better to turn to those activities to spend time, provide distractions, and relieve stress than to turn to drugs or alcohol.