When was the last time you laughed together with a friend or family member?
Laughing together might sound like a frivolous, silly thing to do, but laughter is valuable. Families, classrooms, co-workers, friends… everyone needs some laugh time every single day.
Not only does it help you feel better in the moment, science proves that laughter is beneficial on a wide variety of levels. And the benefits of laughter aren’t limited to kids. Every single adult can reap the reward of laughter in a multitude of ways. Laughter relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, and increases memory and learning. It also improves concentration, creativity, and learning! Laughter can boost our immune system, too. It’s one of the best ways we can bond with one another and lower walls that may be present.
There’s a lot of research on laughter, and how good it is for our bodies and our minds:
- How Laughter Affects Our Health. This article explains why one of the key components of healthy relationships involves laughter.
- Happier in Five Minutes. This Tedx talk teaches you how to laugh for no reason at all, why you should consider making it happen.
- Babies Laughing at Dogs. Because sometimes we all need someone to help us laugh.
- Did Laughter Evolve to Make Us Healthy. In this National Geographic video, researchers look at what laughter can do for our health.
It might seem silly to schedule your laughter, but until it becomes a habit, there’s a good chance you aren’t doing enough of it. Consider penciling “FUN” onto your calendar. No one else needs to know that’s what you’re doing, but by doing so you’re experiencing the many benefits of laughter, and providing that opportunity for others, as well. Here are some suggestions:
- Watch a comedy with a family member or friend
- Watch a few videos on street magic
- Hunt down some screaming goats
- Go for a walk with a child and try some silly new steps together
- Read some spoonerisms
- Have a pun content
- Have a laughing contest. (It will start with forced laughter but it probably won’t be long until you’ve laughed to tears!)
No matter what else happens during your day, make sure you’re taking the time to enjoy the benefits of laughter. Your body and your mind will thank you!
