We don't often think of laughter when we think of health, but laughter has profound effects on our physical and mental well-being. Laughter is a powerful tool that can boost our immune system, reduce stress, and even alleviate pain. Laughter exists cross-culturally, across the lifespan, and has even been documented in apes and rats. In this article, we'll explore the science behind laughter's healing properties and discuss the whys and the ways to bring more laughter into your daily life.
The science of feeling good
Laughter is so much more than just a pleasant sensation; it's a complex biological response that triggers a cascade of positive effects. The Mayo Clinic says laughter stimulates organs, relieves stress, improves the immune system, lifts mood, and reduces pain. Let's take a closer look at these, and consider some ways to bring more laughter into our lives.
When we laugh, cortisol levels lower. Cortisol is the stress hormone associated with anxiety and depression. Laughter also helps tone your vagus nerve, a key player in stress reduction. Endorphins released during laughter can provide temporary relief from pain, and laughter can lower blood pressure and heart rate, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Deep belly laughs can strengthen the diaphragm and improve lung capacity, and it’s been shown that laughter can help to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Everyone’s talking about immunity these days, and the positive thoughts associated with laughter release neuropeptides — these chemical messengers help fight stress and have an overall positive regulatory effect on our systems to help fight disease.
Get a few more laughs in your life
Laughter is spontaneous — but yes, there are things we can do to make it more likely to happen. And don’t worry, we can laugh more often and still be serious about the serious stuff.
Plan to spend time with people who make you laugh. Watch funny movies or TV shows, read humorous books, or listen to comedy podcasts.
Mindfulness techniques can help you appreciate the simple joys of life and find humor in everyday situations. Regular mindfulness exercises can help cultivate perspective on the gravity of problems, allowing us to feel more joy in our lives.
Laughter Yoga is a real thing. It involves engaging in laughter exercises, even when you don't feel like laughing. One study found that when patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment engaged in laughter yoga once a week for four weeks they showed significant improvements in physical and emotional functioning, quality of life, and quality of sleep. Importantly, there were no adverse effects.
Telling a joke to someone else can be a great way to spread laughter and joy. Having just two or three short jokes memorized can help break the ice, relax tension, and you might even get a joke in return.
It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that laughter is something that finds us, but we ourselves can be the source of laughter when we're alone or with others. Laughter has been proven to be contagious, and it's okay to be the one who spreads it!
Games like charades, Pictionary, and board games can be a fun way to spend time with friends and family. One of our favorite games is Salad Bowl, which you play in teams, and is totally free — it’s practically guaranteed to leave everyone rolling on the floor with laughter.
Pets can be a great source of laughter and companionship. If you can't have a pet, seeking out time with other people's pets, or even watching wild animals, can be a great way to bring a smile to your face.
Here are a few jokes to get you started
What did the buffalo say when his son went off to college?
Bison.There was a king once who was 12 inches tall.
Terrible king, great ruler.People are usually shocked when they find out I'm not a very good electrician.
I bought an expensive Rolls Royce but didn’t pay for a driver.
All that money and nothing to chauffeur it.My doctor recommended I buy orthopedic insoles.
I didn't think they would work, but now I stand corrected.I used to be addicted to the Hokey Pokey.
But I turned myself around.
These were found on this Redit thread. Good for a chuckle!
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