How laughter can boost your wellness

Turns out the saying “laugher is the best medicine” is no joke. There’s a growing body of research showing that laughing has both psychological and physical benefits. It can boost short- and long-term wellness. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving circulation, it’s clear that laughing more is a cost-free, holistic way to help you boost your wellness. Let’s take a closer look.

How does laughter help your mind?

Laughter releases endorphins, “feel good” chemicals that keep your mood elevated. These are the same types of chemicals that heighten your mood after exercising, often called the “runner’s high.” These chemicals can boost your mood for hours after your initial laugh.

Another way that laughter influences mood is through the power of deep breathing. When you laugh, you naturally take deeper breaths. Deep breathing is a technique known for effectively reducing stress by activating your parasympathetic nervous system. This system is also known as the “rest and relax” nervous system and is instrumental in keeping your mood regulated and your mind calm.

How does laughter help your body?

Laughter can have many therapeutic benefits for several parts of the body. 

• Heart health: Laughter has been shown to help improve your cardiovascular health in many ways. After a hearty laugh, your brain releases chemicals that relax your blood vessel walls. This can improve circulation throughout the body. Other controlled studies have found that laughter on a regular basis has the potential to lower blood pressure and increase HDL, “good” cholesterol.
• Weight loss and management: Laughing burns calories! Just 10 minutes of laughter can burn up to 50 calories. 
• Blood sugar: Laughter on a regular basis can reduce blood sugar and help reduce the chances of eye, kidney and nerve damage from diabetes

Laugh more

Now that we know some of the benefits of laughter, let’s explore a few ways you can laugh more.

• Add more comedy to your entertainment. Find a funny podcast, TV show, book or community event.
• Spend more time around funny people
• Look for reasons to laugh in the moment
• Be more willing to laugh at yourself
• Allow yourself to be a little silly sometimes
• Try to understand other people’s senses of humor
• If you journal, try adding at least one funny thing you noticed about your day to each journal entry
• Practice telling jokes with friends

So, next time you hear a funny joke or see something silly, remember to laugh out loud. It’s not only fun but also good for your mind and body. By adding more laughter to your life, you can improve your health and feel happier. So go ahead, laugh a little more every day!