Go on, have a laugh!
As we leave the most difficult of times behind us, here’s why it’s so good to face the future with a smile...
Feel the benefits of a good giggle
Think about the last time you laughed. Did you feel happier, brighter and a little bit lighter afterwards? The chances are you did, because there’s a lot of truth in the saying: ‘Laughter is the best medicine’. And now, more than ever, a bit more laughter in our lives might be just what we need.
We’re all born with the ability to laugh, but how often we actually do reduces from the age of 23 onwards. One study found that a four-year-old will laugh around 300 times a day, but it would take a 40-year-old 10 weeks to laugh that many times.
It’s well worth making an effort though, says Vanessa King, head of positive psychology and workplaces at Action For Happiness and author of 10 Keys To Happier Living.
‘When we laugh, we produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which can boost our mood and make us feel calm and relaxed,’ explains Vanessa. ‘Laughing also reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, in turn boosting our immunity and helping our hearts to stay healthy.’
One study found that people with a strong sense of humour outlived those who didn’t laugh as much. It’s a great workout, too; scientists have found laughing activates the internal oblique muscles more than sit-ups.
We know which we’d rather do!
GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE 1 WATCH TV COMEDIES
Next time you reach for the remote to put on that Scandi crime thriller, consider watching a comedy instead. ‘The entertainment that we consume has an emotional effect,’ says Vanessa. ‘Try watching more uplifting shows and notice how it makes you feel afterwards. I know during the pandemic I’ve certainly chosen to watch things that are fun and joyful over nerve-racking, gloomy crime dramas.’
2 LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND LAUGH
When you brush your teeth in the morning, take a moment to look in the bathroom mirror and chuckle. The body doesn’t know if our laughter is genuine or not – even if it’s forced, the benefits are the same. Yes, you’re bound to feel silly, but it’s a simple trick that will help you start your day off in the right way.
3 GO ANIMAL CRACKERS
Our furry friends are internet stars for a reason. Just type ‘funny pet videos’ in to the search bar on Youtube and you’ll find a whole heap of hilarious clips of dogs, cats, rabbits and more... One of the most iconic videos is of Maymo, a Beagle, being pranked with a blow-up alien; it has 819m views!
4 TRY LAUGHTER YOGA
After being told by his mother ‘you don’t laugh like you used to’, Dr Madan Kataria began researching laughter and was amazed by the health benefits it brings. His Laughter Club yoga classes now run up and down the country, and are a fun way to spend an hour. No Lycra required! Visit laughterclub.org.uk.
5 HAVE FUN ON THE PHONE
Get your day going with a giggle; each morning, people from across the UK come together to share a laugh on a free 10-minute phone call. Lotte Mikkelsen, who has MS, turned to laughter as a way of coping with stress and set up The Telephone Laughter Club in 2008 (telephonelaughter.co.uk).