Laughing can benefit you even in difficult situations, and can have a highly positive influence on your health.

Did you know we’re programmed to laugh? In addition to the pleasure and positive feelings it can provide, laughter is a great communication tool. However, as we grow and perfect our skills as human beings, our ability to laugh decreases: while a child can do it 300 to 400 times a day, an adult is only able to laugh 15 to 100 times.

The benefits of laughing

Physical effects:

• It strengthens muscles.
• It strengthens the immune system.
• It eliminates fat.
• It oxygenates your body.

Psychological effects:

• It secretes endorphins, the happiness hormone.
• It fights stress.
• It improves brain function.
• It improves socialisation and self-esteem.
• It helps to generate positive thoughts.

How to laugh more often

To feel good laughing, look for real laughter. There are two ways of doing this:

1. Surround yourself with fun things / Prepare an escape route.

You know better than anyone what makes you laugh, so take the time to gather together things that amuse you. They can be comedies online, funny podcasts on the radio or tickets to a stand-up show. Keep all that fun in one place for easy access, in case you have to reach for it in a time of need. That way, you’ll be prepared in case you have a bad day, and you’ll help your brain shift its focus from the negative to the positive.

3. Don’t hold back your laughter and giggles

Do you hold back when it’s time to laugh? Repressing laughter is a habit that becomes automatic. But it’s possible to reverse it by appreciating the laughter of others and thinking positively about it. Once you value and appreciate the joy and freedom it represents, your mirror neurons will help you be positive about your own laughter. But remember, you must repeat this practice over and over again to redirect a deep-rooted bodily impulse.

In these pandemic times, finding your spontaneous laugh seems a little more difficult. However, smiling and laughing will help you face any difficulty with a much more proactive attitude.

‘Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face’, Victor Hugo.

Sources:

• WebMD
• Psychology Today
• Psicopedia.org

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)