28 June 2022

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I sat down with a group of friends the other day to chat and share ideas all about what each of us was doing in our own space to do with handcrafted jewellery and projects in general. During the session I noticed the sense of happiness and laughter coming out of the group as we shared our triumphs and failures in our designing process.  Afterwards it led me onto thinking about the need for daily laughter and just what it brought to the table for all of us that day together in the group even though some of our projects had ended in disaster.

What I realised was, was that everybody enjoys a good laugh, whether it’s from a live comedy show, a failed project like in my group chat situation, or because a friend made a fool of themselves. The question I put to you is, when was the last time you took some time to relax and find something to laugh about? Not just any laugh, but one of those deep belly laughs that clears out your tear ducts!

If you are among the many adults who have a hard time relaxing you’ll be surprised to know that there are real health benefits to laughter. Yes, it sounds rather crazy, but your favorite sitcom, a laugh in a group chat or simply looking at yourself from a blooper point of view and laughing about it can do wonders for your health!

How Laughter Helps You Emotionally?

When you laugh, your body releases endorphins into the blood system. Endorphins act like natural pain killers and are also responsible for making you feel happy. The best part is endorphins are completely free of any side effects – it’s all natural! That’s why you feel a “natural high” after the right dose of laughter.

Laughing not only leads to a feeling of well-being, but it can also do the following:

• Lower blood pressure – This cycle starts with the blood pressure rising when you start to laugh but then it decreases to levels below normal. When you take deep breaths while laughing, more oxygen-rich blood is transported quickly throughout your body.

• Reduce stress and increase your attentiveness, heart rate and pulse – When your heart rate and pulse is elevated, you’ll feel more energised. Of course, being more attentive can lead to better learning and growth. Hence the reason why the group I join in with on discussing handmade jewellery can come out of the session with some fantastic ideas and help on fixing our ‘bloopers’ and learning more as well as having a laugh along the way together. 

• Make your heart grow stronger – For a long time now, heart specialists have established that mental stress is particularly harmful to the heart and is one of the leading causes behind the buildup of fat and cholesterol in the coronary arteries. By laughing and reducing that stress on a regular basis, you’re helping your body reduce that fat buildup while reducing your risk of a heart attack. 

• Lower blood sugar – Laughter helps with reducing stress and stress often leads to an increase in blood sugar levels. 

Laughter as a Form of Exercise

When you throw back your head and laugh, you’re actually working your muscles from the hips to the shoulders. Since laughing involves taking in and releasing of air, the expelling of carbon dioxide and the intake of oxygen, your internal organs and core muscles get a good workout every time you laugh heartily. It may sound silly, but it’s true.

• Ever heard of “laughter yoga?” It’s a form of yoga class where you perform the regular stretches while getting silly to induce laughter. Activities range from imitating animals to speaking in gibberish. If you think this sounds odd, you’re right. It is! But we have to stop taking life so seriously and start having fun!

Improve Your Mental Health with Laughter

Everyday you’re faced with challenges and it’s completely up to you how to confront them. You can choose a positive attitude or a negative one. Laughing when faced with a challenge can help lift your mood (as well as those around you) and maybe you’ll be able to view the challenge in a positive light. This will help you reduce the stress and get things done quicker.

• Laughter is generally followed by a sense of relaxation, hence it’s a good form of stress relief.

• Use laughter as a way to reconnect with your family and friends, especially during troubling times. When you laugh you generally talk more, make direct eye contact, and even get into closer contact.

A Laugh a Day (Keeps the doctor away) …

Laughter has many physical benefits to your overall health and wellbeing but you obviously still need to exercise, eat well, and go for your routine checkups. Nevertheless, there are simply many perks to laughing and it will help you enjoy the hysterical life that surrounds you in more ways than one!