Get your daily LOLs!

Denise M., M.Ed. General Manager, Corporate Health Unlimited

LOL! Laughter really is the best medicine. It’s true! There is science behind it!

Try this, think of the funniest scene in a movie that you have ever seen. I’m talking almost laugh/cry type of laugh you had maybe the first time you saw it – but it also still makes you laugh every time you see it. Doesn’t it feel good just to think about it? For me, it’s a scene from the movie Dumb and Dumber. What are the chances Mary would ever go on a date with Lloyd? Well, chances are not good (or so we think). Mary says the chances are one million to one. And then Lloyd says, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” LOL (literally). Makes me laugh every time.

We all know that it feels good inside to smile and even better when something makes us chuckle. Remember The Grinch? The best part of the movie is at the end when “he wasn’t sad…he was glad”! And the scientific research actually shows that laughing in particular actually does wonders for our overall health and wellness.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are both short- and long-term health benefits of laughter. In the short-term, laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain. Laughter also elicits your stress response to activate and then de-activate; your heart rate and blood pressure both increase and then decrease which results in a good, relaxed feeling. Furthermore, laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid in muscle relaxation – both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress. It’s a great benefit to get some short-term stress relief, however laughing more and more often in your daily life can actually have some positive long-term benefits as well.

We all have negative thoughts sometimes. The year 2020 has not been shy in delving out some of these negative thoughts and feelings to most of us. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses. This is why it is a great idea to be silly and try to find the humor in things! Laughter can ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. It can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations by helping you connect with others – sharing a good laugh with someone helps to create a bond with that person.

Laughing more is good! So, how can you laugh more in your day? Here are 10 quick tips to help you get your chuckle on…

1. BE SILLY! This is the number one suggestion to be able to laugh more in your day. Life has so many things it throws at us that can bring us down – try to lighten it up by not taking EVERYTHING so seriously all the time.

1. Cat videos. Because they are hilarious.

1. Don’t correct an autocorrect that could provide the person on the other end a good chuckle. 😊

1. Watch a funny movie or TV show with loved ones.

1. Laugh Yoga. Just watching clips of it will create amusement, trust me on this one.

1. Get a laser pointer for your pet.

1. Visit an improv comedy club. Or a regular comedy club. Or stream a standup comedy show. Some of these people are really funny!!!

1. Get some secret hilarious inside jokes going with your group of friends.

1. Surround yourself with funny people.

1. Be spontaneous with your silliness – more often than not, cracking a light joke or making someone smile or giggle will brighten up both your day and theirs.

HAPPY GIGGLING!!!