The 10 Most Relaxing TV Shows on Netflix

What do Breaking Bad, Hannibal, and The Americans have in common? They’re all quality shows deserving of the awards that came their way. However, they’re also dark, heavy, and difficult to watch when you’re stressed. They’re definitely not relaxing TV shows.

Sometimes you just want to come home, plop down on the couch, and watch a palate cleansing-type of show to help you unwind. For that, you’ll want to check out these relaxing Netflix shows. You could even use these TV shows to help you fall asleep, if you want.

1. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Imagine a talk show hosted by comedian Jerry Seinfeld where every guest is one of his famous friends. And then imagine it takes place inside a café as well as the car ride there. No scripts. No self-promotion. It’s entirely authentic, genuine, and absolutely hilarious.

Just look at the name of the show, it says it all: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The episodes are about 15 to 20 minutes long, and each one features a vintage car picked by Seinfeld himself to match the personality of that episode’s guest.

It’s the ultimate show for when you want to shut off your brain and just have a laugh.

2. Bob Ross: Beauty Is Everywhere

Bob Ross: Beauty Is Everywhere is basically the same thing as The Joy of Painting, but the episodes are taken from the 1991-1992 seasons of the show, and not all of the episodes are there.

But who cares? Nothing beats the feeling of watching Bob Ross paint up another scenic masterpiece, complete with his soft voice and gentle encouragements. Looking for a relaxing TV show you can fall asleep to? Then look no further.

3. Chef’s Table

Have you seen Jiro Dreams of Sushi? If you have and you liked it, then you really should watch Chef’s Table. Directed by the same person (David Gelb), Chef’s Table is one of the best Netflix documentaries for foodies.

Every episode focuses on the life and cuisine of a world-class Michelin-starred chef, and brings out the human element that’s often missing in food documentaries.

If that sounds boring, think again. Not only is Chef’s Table a beautifully shot show, it’s deeply engrossing and inspirational. The hours will melt away as you watch.

4. Explained

While Explained is a Netflix show, it feels more suited for a YouTube series in that every episode is about 15 minutes long, educational, entertaining, and entirely self-contained to a single per-episode topic.

There are Explained episodes for cryptocurrency, K-pop, esports, the stock market, cricket, the longevity of life, and more. It’s enough to give you a general understanding of a topic’s history and importance, and it’s presented in a mostly unbiased way that’s engaging—and surprisingly relaxing.

5. The Great British Baking Show

Also known as The Great British Bake Off, this show is perhaps the most wholesome reality TV competition you’ll ever watch (rivaled only by MasterChef Junior).

The Great British Baking Show has amateur bakers face off in a series of elimination rounds until there’s a winner. But the best part is that it’s devoid of the hardcore competitive spirit that props up most American reality shows. It oozes with kindness, humor, and great food.

6. Terrace House

Have you ever wanted to watch Big Brother or The Real World but without any of the fabricated drama or scripted narratives? Then you should give Terrace House a try.

Six strangers come together to live in a shared house for a month, with hidden cameras everywhere. However, this is a Japanese reality show, and there’s a different culture and atmosphere than what you normally see in American reality TV. It’s soft, it’s polite, and it’s a joy to watch.

The original Terrace House (Boys and Girls Next Door) ran for three years in Japan, but Netflix revived it in 2015 with Boys and Girls in the City. This was followed by the sequels Aloha State and Opening New Doors. Only the Netflix-produced ones are available on Netflix.

7. Our Planet

The world around us is incredible. We’re lucky to live on Planet Earth, surrounded by so much natural beauty, and Our Planet is a documentary series that brings the exotic jungles and deep ocean seas right onto your TV screen.

It’s hosted by Sir David Attenborough, who provides insightful and calming commentary and also fronts some of the best BBC documentaries on Netflix. The show was also film entirely in Ultra High Definition, which makes the visuals even more stunning. There’s something meditative about watching nature play out in some of the most remote corners of the world.

8. Samurai Gourmet

Samurai Gourmet is a light-hearted show that follows a newly retired Japanese man who roams his neighborhood and explores the rich culinary offerings therein.

In a word, Samurai Gourmet is refreshing. Few shows are as easy to watch as this one, and it demands nothing of you in return.

9. Aggretsuko

Aggretsuko is a Japanese anime that’s ultra cute, but it’s not a kid’s show. The cuteness contrasts against the main character’s mundane and frustrating office life, as well as her secret love of death metal karaoke.

The episodes are short at just 15 minutes apiece, so you can pop them on whenever you—like the main character—feel like you need to blow off some steam.

10. The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes

The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes is a documentary series fronted by British architect Piers Taylor and property developer (and actress) Caroline Quentin. They head to remote locations and check out some fantastic custom-designed homes, exploring how they’ve been built to adapt to their surroundings.

Though you might get a bit of house envy when watching it, this is still a delightful show to watch. Seeing the creativity on display is inspiring, but there’s also no drama or competition about it—this is purely a relaxing, friendly look at how other people live.

Use Meditation Tools to Relax Even More

These are some of the best TV shows to put on when you’ve had a stressful day and want something cheerful and fun to help you relax. Or even to fall asleep to.

And if you want to relax even more, you should try out these easy meditation tools for beginners to learn mindfulness.

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