This article is in
How to be happy
Live and Let Laugh!
When was the last time you had a proper, roaring belly laugh?
It’s a sad fact that many of us get bogged down in the stresses of modern life.We forget how fantastic a good giggle makes us feel. There are few things better in life than laughter. Especially when shared with our friends!
The best medicine
Ever heard the saying “Laughter is the best medicine”, ? Well, it’s true! Laughter is actually great for your physical health as well. It’s surprising how effective it is! And not just as a workout for the diaphragm!
And even after you’ve stopped laughing, the release of all those feel-good endorphins carries on that great feeling. It helps you cope with whatever life throws at you. In fact, the more you laugh, the stronger and healthier you’ll get emotionally.
“Your sense of humour is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.” ~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.
Check out some interesting scientific studies of laughter!
A great all-rounder
Laughter brings fantastic benefits to so many areas of your life; here are just a few:
|
Mental |
Physical |
|
Alleviates anxiety and stress |
Lowers blood pressure |
|
Improves your mood |
Helps strengthen cardiovascular function to protect your heart |
|
Helps you feel stronger emotionally |
Boosts your immune system |
|
Helps you bond with others |
Decreases pain |
|
Improves learning and memory |
Relaxes your muscles |
Read more about the physical, mental and social benefits of laughter here.
Share the joy!
Laughter is a fantastic way of bonding with others. You’ll find that sharing a laugh will make your relationships much stronger. People love a sense of humour! In fact, laugh more and you may well end up a better team player and communicator. And it’ll do your love life a world of good as well!
How to laugh more often?
Even if laughing is the last thing you feel like doing right now (and we all have times like that!) – there are some easy ways to incorporate more laugher into your life. I’d love to share them with you – and for you to share them with others!
- Create “laughter opportunities” – Host a funny movie night, go to a stand-up gig, tell a joke! Actively plan something new to make you laugh every day!
- Try out “laughter yoga” – yes, this really does exist! And it’s terrific fun – some of my friends recommended it to me and it’s the best thing I’ve tried in years! Find out more about it here.
- Spend some time with fun, humorous people- laughter really is contagious!
- Smile! Just the act of smiling will automatically lighten your mood, even if you’re down. Try it and see!
Try setting aside a little time regularly to have a laugh – a bit like you would a workout. Give it a go just for a couple of weeks! Your life may well become more enjoyable - and the tough times easier to handle!
Get some more inspiration on how to bring more laughter into your life.
And don’t forget this year’s international World Laughter Day, happening on 6th May. You can pop along to the free laughter workshop with a few mates for a great day out! Chek out the international calendar of World Laughter Day events here.
I've always been passionately interested in the web and how it influences our lives - however, since jumping over the pond I've enjoyed flexing my copywriting and editing muscles as well. It's great being part of something so vibrant and inspirational!