It’s fun to share a good laugh, but did you know it can actually improve your health?
It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress.
Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.
With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
Laughter makes you feel good. And this positive feeling remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.
Begin by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might with exercising, and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally around you. Here are some ways to start:
Smile
Smiling is the beginning of laughter, and like laughter, it’s contagious. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling. Instead of looking down at your phone, look up and smile at people you pass on the street, the person serving you a morning coffee, or the residents you share an elevator with. Notice the effect on others.
Count Your Blessings
Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the positive aspects of your life will distance you from negative thoughts that block humor and laughter.
Bring more laughter into your life
Spend Time with Fun, Playful People
These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.
Bring Humor into Conversations
Ask people, “What’s one of the funniest things that happened to you today? This week? In your life?”
Additional Tips for More Laughter
Watch a funny movie or show
Host a game night with family, friends, or neighbors
Read comics or a funny story
Think of a funny memory
Visit a comedy club
Spend time with a pet and/or children
Show gratitude to others
Thanks to Help Guide for this information.