The Health Benefits of Laughter

My 8-year-old daughter grinned with satisfaction: She and her second-grade classmates had conspired to prank their teacher. They asked her, “Would you like a brownie?,” and then proceeded to hand her a letter “E” they had cut from brown construction paper. My daughter and her friends erupted in laughter when the teacher, playing along beautifully, pretended to bite into the brown E. April Fools! 

April is National Humor Month. Everybody loves a good laugh, but there are benefits of laughter beyond the sheer enjoyment of the experience. The act of laughing immediately lowers blood pressure and relaxes the body, including the release of endorphins, which help to reduce pain and improve one’s mood. It also activates T-cells, which are important to the body’s immune system. Laughter promotes circulation and muscle relaxation, which help to alleviate the physical effects of stress. Finally, it can lessen depression and anxiety, and develop social connection among people. 

Funny moments often happen spontaneously, but there are ways to encourage more laughter in our lives even if we lack a strong sense of humor:

— Place simple sources of humor within reach. These may include photos, greeting cards, comic strips, or a desk calendar. 

— Intersperse comic relief between serious times. While there is a time for seriousness, an uninterrupted stream of it can weigh us down. Consider looking at joke websites online, watching a funny movie, or reading a funny book or magazine. 

— Find a way to laugh about your own situations. This can be difficult, especially for Type A personalities. Nevertheless, try to frame a frustrating circumstance differently. There may be an element of humor in it. 

— Share the laughs. Spend time with others who make you laugh, Think also about some jokes or funny stories that you can share with others.

One note of caution: Take care not to laugh at the expense of others. Use good judgment to discern uplifting jokes from those that are mean or hurtful. 

I can think of no better way to close out this post than by sharing a few great one-liners:

“My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.” -- Rodney Dangerfield

“Camping is nature’s way of promoting the motel business.” -- Dave Barry 

“Just burned 2,000 calories. That’s the last time I leave brownies in the oven while I nap.” -- Unknown

“Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a donation toward the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass of water.” -- Unknown 

“I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them.” -- Phyllis Diller 

Remember to keep things light sometimes. It will complement your health efforts, and you’ll enjoy life more. Carl Reiner said it well: “Everybody needs to laugh -- you know that. They need to laugh. People need to laugh.” 

References

Adventist Health. (2018, April 11). How laughter can alleviate stress and provide other health benefits. https://www.adventisthealth.org/blog/2018/april/how-laughter-can-alleviate-stress-and-provide-ot/

Mayo Clinic. (2019, April 5). Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456