Stress Less Quick Tip #20: Laugh Every Day

When did you last laugh so hard you cried? Your belly ached (in a good way). The giggles and guffaws kept rolling out of your mouth no matter how hard you tried to stop them.
​
During a recent family vacation, I did this nearly every day. It felt SO good! Looking at pictures taken without my knowledge led to more giggles later.

Laughter does a body and mind good whether you snicker, hoot, snort, chortle, chuckle, cackle, or roar. You better believe I brought the research to back that up, too!


A Fact with Wow Factor
Laughter does NOT need humor.


Stress Less Tip
Laugh, and laugh often. In case you ever wondered about the credibility of the adage, "Laughter is the best medicine," check out these benefits of laughing:

• Decreased muscle tension
• System-wide oxygenation
• Engaged relaxation response
• Increased immunity
• Reduced pain with opiate production in the body
• Increased life satisfaction
• Decreased depression
• Reduced anxiety
• Relief from insomnia
• Abdominal muscles and heart workout
• Strengthened connections with others (when sharing a laugh)
• Enhanced problem-solving skills

​

Dive Deeper
You may associate laughter with something funny preceding it. In truth, you gain laughter's benefits with or without the humor component. Humor implies something with comedic or amusing qualities. Not everyone finds the same experiences humorous, though.

Laughter expresses emotion, particularly pleasure or amusement. Just as yelling need not arise from anger, laughter doesn't hinge on enjoyment. Laughing produces feelings of happiness and satisfaction on its own.

What should you take away from differentiating laughter from humor? Practice laughing like you would anything else you want to make a habit. Even if forced initially, it improves your well-being and gets easier with time.

The trending exercise regimen of "laughter yoga" specializes in voluntary laughter practice. Staged laughing often evolves into a genuine response. Give it a try with the video below:

x

It might feel awkward laughing for no reason at first, a normal reaction. Feel free to seek out inspiration to start your laughter ignition instead. Use funnies that suit your sense of humor like home videos, YouTube favorites, greeting cards, memes, pictures, etc.

Check in with like-minded friends and acquaintances. You likely make them laugh and vice versa because you share a sense of what's funny. Plus, when you see or hear someone laugh, you instinctively itch to do the same.



Quick-Win Action
Keep a laughter trigger within reach throughout your day. When you feel the pressures of the day pushing your good spirits and patience out the door, take a laugh break. With no side effects to laughter, what have you got to lose?

<< Back to Stress Less Quick Tip List

Take a Mental Health Time-Out >>