The Importance of Laughter (and How to Laugh More)
Why are the likes of Jon Stewart, Lucille Ball, Chris Rock, and Ellen DeGeneres so influential? Why are shows like Seinfeld, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Saturday Night Live so popular? In a world of political divisiveness, conflict, and people working themselves to the point of sickness, the Laughter that these people and these shows are able to gift us infuses much-needed joy into our lives.
People living halfway across the world from each other may not be able to understand each other’s words. They may even struggle to understand each other’s gestures or body language. However, laughter is universal across almost all cultures. Laughter has a way of uniting people from all walks of life. Laughter is a core part of our everyday experience and impacts every aspect of our being, yet its importance in our lives is not emphasized nearly enough and sadly, is often underappreciated. Let’s explore further why laughter truly is the best medicine and how to make it a greater part of our lives.
Laughter makes us healthier.
Audrey Hepburn said it best when she said: “laughter is the best calorie burner.” It is already well known that Laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and boosts the immune system by increasing the circulation of antibodies in the bloodstream. One study even found that laughter increases the level of killer cells, white blood cells that attack cancer cells. It also increases muscle flexion. What’s more, though, is that laughing is considered a form of low-impact cardiovascular exercise, but without the aches and pains of a cardio workout. While laughter certainly shouldn’t replace physical exercise, regular laughter does wonders for the cardiovascular system by increasing blood flow and oxygenation and exercising the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Regular laughter is especially beneficial for people who live a sedentary lifestyle. Laughter can even give you a boost in energy, improve sleep patterns, and help relieve minor aches and pains.
Laughter improves our mood. When we engage in activities we enjoy, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which is nicknamed the “feel-good neurotransmitter.” The release of dopamine puts us in a better mood. When we laugh, the brain releases dopamine. Laughing literally makes our mood better. When you’re not feeling your best and have already taken time to appropriately process your emotions, seek out something you find funny and just start laughing. In no time, you’ll find yourself feeling better. Laughter also makes you more resilient. When you’re able to find the humor in a bad situation, you are better able to tackle the situation head-on and come out on the other side stronger.
Laughter can make us smarter!
Yes, you read that right. Laughter has the power to sharpen our concentration and enhance creativity. When you laugh, you become better able to solve problems and to see problems from different perspectives. Laughing often also helps you to be more productive in your work.
Laughter builds stronger relationships.
As discussed earlier, laughter is a universal language across almost all cultures. The experience of laughing together builds empathy and brings people closer together. Laughter fosters better communication and cooperation. For this reason, the more laughter there is in a workplace, the greater satisfaction employees tend to report. This is also why people list a sense of humor as one of the most important traits they look for in a partner.
Laughter is good for the soul.
Laughing reminds us not to take ourselves or our lives too seriously. We are all human, and we all have our shortcomings. Being able to laugh at ourselves helps us deal with our shortcomings and keeps us humble. Laughter helps us keep our problems and perspective. Each time we are able to laugh, regardless of what our situation or circumstances are, we are given hope that everything is going to be okay, even if it doesn’t feel that way immediately.
So now that we know why laughter is so important, how do we make sure we’re getting our daily share of laughter? Here are some ideas.
Find something funny to watch.
Whether it’s your favorite 30-minute sitcom, a stand-up comedy segment, or a short YouTube video of puppies playing with piglets, watching something funny is one of the easiest ways to get your dose of the best medicine. If you’re feeling low, need an energy boost, or a mental break, a funny show could be just what you need. You could also find something funny to read, flip through a joke book, or search for some humorous Internet memes.
Spend some time with funny people.
We all have the one friend who has us laughing until it hurts. Try to schedule some regular time with that friend, either in person, on the phone, via video chat, or through text. Laughter is contagious, so surrounding yourself with other people who are laughing is an almost guaranteed way to start laughing yourself. Just make sure that you’re not laughing at the expense of anyone else.
Remember funny stories and moments in your life.
Oftentimes, recalling these moments is all it takes to get the laughter rolling in.
Try laughter yoga.
Yes, this is actually a thing. Check it out, give it a try, and see how it makes you feel!
Spend more time with kids.
On average, kids laugh about 200 times a day, whereas adults only laugh 26. Kids are able to find wonder and humor in even the most seemingly mundane of situations. When we see them laugh, we adults can’t help but start laughing ourselves, bringing us back to the times when we didn’t feel that we needed to carry the whole weight of the world on our shoulders.
Want to learn more about the art of comedy? Other simple, everyday strategies to improve your overall health and wellbeing? Ways to adopt a more positive attitude towards life? Or perhaps you want to share your wisdom on any of these topics with others. On Konversai, you can do it all. Konversai is the world’s first global marketplace for any and all human knowledge on any topic. This online platform allows providers of knowledge and seekers of knowledge to engage in one-on-one live video conversations. Konversai’s mission is to democratize knowledge, put the human connection back into the heart of technology, and make the world better by enabling meaningful and authentic conversations that benefit all parties involved. On Konversai, knowledge providers have the opportunity to share monetize their knowledge, skills, and experiences, all on their own time. If they don’t need the money, they can always hold sessions for free or donate their earnings to a charity of their choice. Meanwhile, knowledge seekers can enjoy personalized sessions on exactly what they’re looking for from an actual human being with whom they can interact. All users on Konversai are encouraged to be both providers and seekers of knowledge on any and as many topics as they wish. Whatever it is you’re looking to share or learn, now is the time, and Konversai is the place. Get started today!
Written by: Pavita Singh
Sources:
- Allmond, Patrick. The Five Most Important Reasons to Laugh. Stop Doing Nothing.
- Chris, Alex. The importance of laughter in our life. Manage Your Life Now.
- Duccio. The power of laughter, laughing can help us to live a happier life. How To Be Happy.
- Gendry, Sebastian. Why Laughter Is So Important. Laughter Online University.
- Lechner, Tamara. 6 Reasons Why Laughter Is the Best Medicine. The Chopra Center.
- Thaik, Cynthia. (2014). Why Laughing Is Good for Your Health. HuffPost.
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