I was sick and alone at night, so I used tv to make me feel like someone else was there. I didn't care what was on, alot of the time it wasn't even loud enough for me to make out the words, I didn't actively watch it or listen. It just made me feel less alone and distracted me enough from my symptoms that I could get some sleep. When it's too quiet, I just laid there and waited for symptoms, if that makes sense.
Now that I think of it, it's a waste of electricty, that is true. Probably a habit I should break.