You may have heard it numerous times, but it’s true: laughter really is the best medicine. As kids, we would have laughed at the silliest things, but as adulthood and its stresses caught up, we tend to laugh less frequently.
Anxiety creeps up on us in so many ways, and we struggle to juggle our work and personal lives, adding to our stress levels, which is never a good thing. Sometimes, all you need to do is get some good laughter because it has the power to uplift your mood, trigger positivity and boost your physical health. Laughing has the powerful potential to alleviate our worries, inspire hope, connect with others, and release pent-up anger.
And the best part? Laughter is a priceless medicine that is free, fun, and easy to access!
The benefits of laughter for our physical and mental health are aplenty, and they’re backed by scientific research as well. Let’s take a closer look:
Physical Health Benefits of Laughter
- When you laugh, you breathe more oxygen, stimulating the heart, lungs, and muscles.
- Our body tenses up when we feel stressed. Having a good laugh relieves the physical tension in your body and helps relax your muscles.
- Laughing increases the heart rate and the amount of oxygen in the blood. This enhances vascular function and reduces the risk of a heart attack.
- At times of stress, our negative feelings turn into chemical reactions that can reduce our immunity to sickness. Laughing, on the other hand, helps you to adopt a positive mindset that releases antibodies that can help boost the immune system.
- Laughter releases endorphins which counter the adverse effects of stress hormones. This helps in lowering blood pressure.
- Those who suffer from chronic stress often experience unhealthy weight gain. What many people don’t know is that in addition to reducing stress hormones, laughter also helps burn calories.
Mental Health Benefits of Laughter
- Our lives are riddled with worrying thoughts that add to our stress. When we laugh, we divert our attention from those burdensome thoughts.
- Nothing can help you like a good laugh when you’re in a foul mood. This can go a long way in diffusing depression and anger and helps promote a general sense of well-being.
- Laughing can reduce cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone) by increasing oxygen intake and promoting circulation around the body. Therefore, it helps in fighting stress.
- Our brains produce endorphins, the feel-good chemical that boosts our happiness. When we laugh, it increases the number of endorphins, helping to enhance a positive mood and ward off stress.
- Shared laughter is a great way to strengthen relationships. In addition to allowing yourself to feel more connected with your friends, family, or coworkers, it also is a great way to heal from past resentments and disagreements!
How To Add More Laughter to Your Life
Sometimes, we are so consumed with our work and personal lives that we forget to make time for laughter. Here’s how you can promote laughter and brings positivity into your life:
- Listen to a funny podcast on your way to work, while doing chores around the house, or whenever you feel de-stressing.
- Follow a funny meme account that will put a smile on your face each time you log into your social media.
- If you’re a pet person, spend time playing with your pets. They are a source of laughter for many people.
- Try laughter yoga, a new take on yoga where prolonged voluntary laughter is encouraged.
- Learn to laugh at yourself sometimes, too. Look for the positive in a situation when you find something upsetting.
- Invite some friends for a game night and share precious laughter with party-style games like Charades.
- Hop on to YouTube for funny videos that will make you laugh.
- Set aside time to spend with your friends and talk about silly things that will lighten your mood and make you laugh.
Final Thoughts
Have you ever wondered why TV sitcoms often use laugh tracks? It’s because laughter is very contagious, and you’d naturally want to laugh when you hear someone laugh. The more laughter you bring into your life, the happier you will be and the happier the people around you will be!
One of the most significant health benefits of laughter is the social aspect of it. Switching off your devices, connecting one-on-one, and engaging in wholesome conversations rebalances the nervous system and halts the defensive stress response such as the ‘fight or flight mode.’
It’s undeniable that laughter makes you feel good, and the positive vibes following a good laugh will remain with you even after the laughter has subsided. When you find joy in humor, it allows you to maintain an optimistic outlook that can help you overcome challenging situations in life, tackle disappointments and even cope with loss. Laughter gives you the strength to find new meanings of hope in life, and when you laugh – or even smile – at the face of life’s most difficult moments, it can go a long way in making you feel better!
