LAUGH YOUR WAY TO WELLNESS
One of the best feelings in the world is a good, authentic laugh. It can bring people together and establish amazing connections. Everything from a little giggle to a sidesplitting cackle can change the mood of a room.
As children, we would have easily laughed hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to get serious, making laughter much more infrequent. By seeking out opportunities in everyday life for humour and laughter, however, we can improve our emotional health, strengthen our relationships, find greater happiness - and even add years to our lives.
Laughter & Health
It’s fun to share a good laugh, but did you know it can actually improve your health? It’s true - laughter is strong medicine. Laughter can lead to a longer life as a result of:
enhanced moods
decreases in blood pressure
decreases in stress-related hormones
reduced levels of anxiety and depression
decreased hunger hormones
lower bad cholesterol and higher good cholesterol levels, and
overall increased immunity
Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humour lightens burdens, inspires hope, and keeps us grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps us release anger and forgive sooner. But how?
Well, laughter actually orients the brain to a positive mindset, with regular laughter and smiling actually changing the brain’s chemistry. It enhances your intake of ‘oxygen-rich air’, increasing your brain’s release of endorphins, which helps to reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress. Learning to laugh at yourself is also important as this approach to laughter in life assists further in adjusting to stress and adversity. Ever had nervous laughter in an awkward or difficult situation? This is because laughter helps shift difficult emotions, freeing the body and mind of stress.
Lastly, laughing can tone our abs, give us a low impact cardio workout and can help ease physical pain through the release of endorphins – the body’s natural feel-good chemical.
Laughter & Learning
As toddlers, we learned new tasks more easily when we were happy and laughing. This is because laughter has the same effect on the brain as meditation; providing clarity and focus. This translates into later-life learning also, where studies have shown that learning ability and memory recall was better in older adults when humour was involved. Moreover, when teachers include humour in their teaching styles (whether in the classroom or virtually), they are better able to engage with their students, which results in better learning outcomes.
Laughter & Relationships
There’s a good reason why TV sitcoms use laugh tracks: laughter is contagious. We are actually 30 times more likely to laugh at something when we are with other people than when we are alone. When we share a laugh with someone, it brings you closer together, even if you were previously strangers. Moreover, strangers are more likely to open up if they laugh together during their first connection.
When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. In addition, sharing a laugh with someone you are already close to can:
encourage attraction
strengthen the relationship by keeping things fresh and exciting
create memories that improve relationship satisfaction when remembered
Laughter is an especially powerful tool for managing conflict and reducing tension when emotions are running high. It’s very hard for two people who laugh together to feel any animosity towards one another.
Why Laughing At Work Matters
It doesn’t hurt to have a good time while also getting work done. Happier workplaces tend to have higher energy and output. Research at Deakin University in Victoria has demonstrated an improved sense of wellbeing and morale from laughter in the workplace, which can also reduce absenteeism and staff turnover.
People who regularly share a laugh in the workplace are naturally able to reduce their stress. Laughter amongst colleagues also builds trust, which leads to better communication, collaboration and group dynamics within the team. As a result, employees that regularly laugh with others are much more engaged with work, and have higher levels of both productivity and creativity. Moreover, it has been shown that leaders showing a sense of humour inspire innovation amongst their colleagues.
10 Ways To Get Our Giggle On More
You don’t need to perform a comedy routine, but if you already know how to make someone laugh, see if you can increase how often you do it. In addition, here are 10 quick ways to share laughter with those around you:
Find the humour in daily situations and share it with someone
Watch your favourite stand-up comedian on YouTube/Netflix
Listen to a funny podcast together
Go out with friends for a karaoke night
Re-watch a comedy sitcom or movie that always cracks you both up
Play with a dog together (even if you have to borrow one from a friend)
Look through old photos together
Read through the humour cards in a gift shop together
Host ‘silly days’ at work – wear silly socks, hats, or other attire
Set up a humour library with funny books, memes, jokes etc.
Laughter is contagious, so spend time with people who laugh and smile more - even anticipating a laugh can provide some of the above benefits, so plan some funny. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for handling problems, enhancing relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
By Nikki Cox, Wellness Coach