Did you know laughing for just 15 seconds might increase your life span? Infants start to smile within the first five weeks of life and laugh at around four months. I still recall our son’s first smile. And the first time he laughed, he was watching a balloon floating above his head. I tapped it and he broke out in a burst of belly laughter. He laughed so hard he had tears streaming down his face.
During our visits with family, we like to play board games. These are some of my favorite family moments. Some of the games are kinda silly … and some are a little raunchy. But they are fun! Last winter, Stuart and I took our usual trip over the winter break to spend time with our family in McCall, Idaho. It’s one of our favorite places. My brother and sister-in-law always introduce us to new games. This is a guaranteed laugh Festivus. I usually end up with stomach pain and mascara down my face from laughing continuously. And swollen and puffy eyes!
One game we played this past winter really stands out …… Watch Ya’ Mouth.
The minute my brother placed the dental mouthguard (aka cheek spreader) in his mouth, I began to laugh hysterically. If you’ve never played Watch Ya’ Mouth, it’s not as easy as it looks. The game is quite challenging! Check it out.
Did you know you can burn a calorie for every minute you laugh? Seriously, no joke!
Laughter is associated with better sleep quality, increases circulation, boosts our immune system, reduces stress, and improves our memory and creativity. When you laugh, it releases endorphins, which is our natural pain killer. And laughter can mitigate depressive symptoms.
Michael Miller, M.D., the Director of Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, has conducted several studies on the cardiovascular benefits of laughter. He observed …
The magnitude of change we saw in the endothelium is similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic activity, but without the aches, pains, and muscle tension associated with exercise. We don’t recommend that you laugh and not exercise, but we do recommend that you try to laugh on a regular basis. Thirty minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15 minutes of laughter on a daily basis is probably good for the vascular system.
What if you really can’t “find the laughter?” Believe it or not, it’s possible to laugh without something funny prompting it. Simulated laughter can be just as beneficial as the real thing. It can even make exercise more fun. A Georgia State University study found that including bouts of simulated laughter into an exercise program helped improve older adults’ mental health as well as their aerobic endurance. Plus, hearing others laugh, even for no apparent reason, often triggers genuine laughter. Did you laugh when you saw the silly photos of us playing board games? Every time my mother laughs, I cannot resist joining her … and then she laughs even more … and I laugh harder. It becomes a feedback loop that’s hard to escape. Perhaps you have a friend or family member that brings out the giggles in you too?
You can start by laughing at jokes, even if you don’t find them all that funny. Make an effort. Chuckle at your friends’ or co-workers’ jokes and witty comments! Both you and your friend will feel good. It will draw you closer together. And who knows, it may even lead to a spontaneous chuckle fest. Other opportunities to increase the amount of laughter in your life can be through television, movies, and, my favorite, games. Try laugh yoga, join the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor, or just watch this TEDx video.
If you are interested in learning about the science of laughter, check the LaughterOnlineUniversity website.
👀 350+ Scientific Research Papers on Laughter
ℹ️ Infographic – Benefits of Laughter
So, tap into your laughter promoting sources. Try not to take yourself too seriously. When things don’t go quite right, just laugh it off!
Laughter is contagious … in a good way. So spread the love of laughter to others!
If you are looking for some physical activity, check out the Yoga Flow J = Jovial in the A to Z Wellbeing series on the Yoga Apothecary YouTube Channel. You can read past issues of the Wellbeing Elixir Newsletter on our website.
Cheers-
Seena
Dr. Seena L. Haines
Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Yoga Instructor (Certified)
Health and Wellness Coach (Certified)
Chief Fitness Officer (CFO)