5 Radical Minutes believes in the benefits of laughter.
Did you know that laughter actually releases chemicals that help fight some kinds of cancer? Laughter relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, increases memory, improves alertness, creativity, and learning. Bottom line, laughter is one of the best things we can do to bond with one another and lower defenses.
We’ve collected a bunch of resources that talk about the benefits of laughter. Below you’ll find helpful guides, some heady research, and some useful tools to help you infuse more laughter into your life.
Laughter Therapy
Cancer Treatment Centers of America supplies a guide that outlines the healing power of laughter. Additionally, they include research that supports laughter therapy.
Laugh Lots, Live Longer
Scientific American Mind details a Norwegian study that found having a strong sense of humor may extend life expectancy. We’re all for living longer!
Laughter-Based Exercise Program for Older Adults has Health Benefits
Georgia State University research that shows the health benefits of simulated laughter. And before you shake your head and sigh at the term “simulated laughter,” read through this study. It’s really quite inspiring. Not only are these older adults thriving, this program gets them up and moving more than they have in years! As a result, they’re living better lives!
No joke: Study finds laughing can burn calories
Vanderbilt University Medical Center outlines a small study that found laughing raises energy expenditure and increases heart rate enough to burn a small amount of calories. Laugh more and lose weight in the process. It’s a win-win.
The Benefits of Laughter
Psychology Today details the social benefits of laughter and the important role it plays in the relationships between people in this article. It emphasizes that the best laughter isn’t about humor, but about social relationships.
The Science of Laughter
Psychology Today’s psychologist and laughter researcher Robert Provine, Ph.D., explains the power of laughter, humor, and play as social tools. Additionally, he discusses where it comes from and why we laugh in the first place.
Humor in the Workplace
Laughter Remedy has put together a list of articles on using humor in the workplace to reduce job stress, improve morale, boost productivity and creativity, and improve communication. Can you even imagine what having such an environment at your job every single day? You wouldn’t be able to put a lid on your creativity.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
HelpGuide.org provides a helpful guide to mental, emotional, and social health. This PDF will have you laughing your way to better health, and provides and tips and tools to make it happen.
Download the PDF version of this blog article here.