This summer is set to be one of the hottest on record for new TV shows, but whilst over a third (36%) look forward to the escapism that comes with new material, a study commissioned by Samsung UK reveals that over a quarter (26%) of young adults feel ‘lost’ or ’empty’ when a TV series ends.

The research reveals that on average young adults will spend seven hours a week in front of the TV and will watch up to four series at any one time. It takes 38 per cent only a couple of days to finish off a series, with nearly three in 10 feeling a sense of accomplishment when they do.

When it comes to the shows that young adults are most excited about this summer, the research shows that Stranger Things Season 4 came out on top after part one landing in May, followed by Peaky Blinders Season 6 and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The study found that almost half (47%) turn to TV to help them relax whilst more than four in 10 watch to avoid boredom and over a third (31%) use their favourite shows as a distraction from their daily lives.

Whatever the reason for tuning in, Samsung UK is on a mission to ensure viewers have the ultimate summer sofa experience, ideal for relaxing TV evenings with friends and family. Teaming ug with ‘Insta-therapist’ Dr. Soph Mort, a psychologist with over 10 years’ experience in the NHS, the handy guide provides tips on immersing in the hottest shows of the summer such as boosting productivity, avoiding feuds over what to watch next and tackling the ‘post-show blues’.

Dr. Sophie Mort said: “If you’ve ever been hooked on an amazing series, you’ll know all too well how it feels to be lost when it ends. All too often we associate negative phrases like ‘guilty pleasure’ or ‘binge-watching’ with a series. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Samsung UK, to help young adults value the importance of immersing yourself in a show in a healthy, balanced way.”

The research found that a third of young adults tune in to learn something new, whilst 31 per cent press play because it inspires them to try new things or travel to new places.

Buffering in between shows and waiting for the next series of their favourite show to be released are the biggest TV bugbears for young adults, whilst drip-feeding shows instead of releasing them all at once was also a top annoyance for 37 per cent.

Ashrita Seshadri, Head of Brand Marketing Samsung UK, said: “At Samsung, we want to create incredible viewing experiences for people to enjoy their favourite shows at home, whether that’s settling down for a new series on Neo QLED TV or watching Wimbledon outside with the Freestyle projector. That’s why we’ve created this guide, to help people tune out of the daily distractions in their life and into that must-see show.”

Dr Soph’s Guide To The Ultimate Sofa Escape this summer:

1. TV can be good for you, embrace it
Watching TV can help decrease loneliness (if you feel bonded with the characters in the show you are watching), increase connectivity (as you have a shared community with other fans) and lessen the stress hormone, cortisol, levels. So, next time you feel guilty for watching that new series, check yourself!

2. Cut out the scrolling time
It can be frustrating to spend an evening on the sofa scrolling through endless lists of shows, feeling uninspired and undecided by what to watch next. People even fall out with friends or family over such debates. The Samsung Neo QLED QN95B features a Smart Hub that guides users to their favorite content or helps them discover something new.

3. How to eliminate ‘post-show blues’
Urban dictionary defines post-series blues as “the sadness felt after reading or watching a really long series or story. The bitter feeling when you know the journey is over, but you don’t want it to end”. Before you have a rebound fling with another series to manage the blues, journal about what moved or inspired you in the series and consider how you can bring an element of what you experienced while watching into your own life.

4. Use TV to learn a language
Research shows that watching TV in a foreign language increases language comprehension, pronunciation and grammar. So, try streaming that new show in a language you wish to learn, and be amazed by what you pick up.

5. Watch re-runs of your favourite show to boost productivity
Ambient noise, such as the sounds you hear when you work from a coffee shop, have been shown to increase productivity for many of us. So, when you need to focus, put a great episode of your favourite show on in the background at a low volume, or play the show to listen through your Galaxy Buds, and notice your attention span increase.