Laughter
It has amazing benefits
Do you know how many benefits we can get just from laughing? Studies show there are a lot, both short- and long-term. According to the Mayo Clinic, it will:
- Stimulate your organs
- Increase oxygen intake
- Release endorphins
- Reduce stress by activating your body’s stress response
- Ease tension
- Improve your immune system
- Ease pain by releasing natural painkillers
- Improve your mood over the long term
Other studies show it can stimulate gamma brain waves— like in meditation — and increase mental clarity and creativity.
All of that just from a little laughing.
This is something I work on a lot. It sounds silly to say I “work on laughing” but it’s true. It’s not that I don’t like funny stuff or laughing out loud, but for some reason I just don’t do it. When I think something is funny, I’ll typically say, “That’s funny!” with a smile. But one day a friend responded by asking, “Then why don’t you laugh? If you think it’s funny, laugh. Don’t just say it’s funny.” Put simply, I don’t actively seek out opportunities to laugh. And there is no good reason why, either!
So, how can a person incorporate laughter into their life more?
One simple tip is to intentionally take 5-10min breaks for laughter or fun. Seek out short, funny video clips and let yourself laugh. Let those gamma waves take over. Or follow some comedians on social media so that you laugh a little while you scroll.
Go to a standup comedy show. There’s evidence that laughing together in a group has a powerful effect on our wellbeing.
Write down “Three funny things” in a journal. This is like a journaling practice but different for obvious reasons. By the time you’re done writing them down, you’ll likely be laughing out loud. And as a bonus, this is a journal you’ll actually may want to go back and read for a change.
This week, I’m going to be 1% better simply by laughing and finding ways to incorporate laughter into my life. All those benefits are too good to pass up just by doing a simple, joyful act. If you’ve got some other ideas of how to bring laughter into each day, please share it in the comments!
With gratitude,
Natalie
