If you ever feel guilty for vegging out in front of Nick Toons reruns, don’t! Because what seems like an easy way to spend a lazy, rainy Sunday is actually a healthy habit. Really!

A new study revealed that watching reruns of a familiar favorite actually improved people’s self control. Volunteers took surveys for two weeks, answering various questions about stress, self-control, fictional world use (for example, a favorite book, show, or movie), and their moods. And it turns out, the volunteers who tuned into reruns of old faves like Nick Toons reported higher ratings of self-control than the rest did.

The researchers think it’s because when you’re watching reruns, you’re not so concerned with focusing on all the twists and turns in the plot, because you already know what’s going to happen–so you can sort of just sit back and enjoy it a little more without having your brain work so hard. “We have to do all this extra effort when [watching or reading] a new TV show, new movie, or new book. If we have seen it before we can just enjoy it,” researcher Jaye Derrick explained. “A positive mood is energizing.”

Another self-control booster? Hanging out and sharing some laughs with your pals. That’s another reason why zoning out to old Nick Toons episodes can help your self-control: the familiar faces we see in reruns–whether it’s SpongeBob and Patrick or Tommy Pickles–sort of feel like old, comfortable friends.

The science behind it, from what they’ve studied so far, suggests that the more you exert yourself, the less self-control you have. If you’re watching Nick Toons reruns, you’re not really doing or thinking that much, and you’re super relaxed–which can restore your self-control levels. So if you’re having a hard time resisting the urge to punt your little brother or to stop eating so much candy corn, you may want to settle in with some familiar faves. It turns out they can actually encourage you to be on your best behavior!

What Nick Toons reruns are you most likely to veg out to? What’s your favorite TV show to kick back and relax with? Tell us in the comments!

We want these vintage cartoons to make a comeback! Did your fave make the list?

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