Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.
Remember funny things that happen. If something amusing happens or you hear a joke or funny story you really like, write it down or tell it to someone to help you remember it. Many things in life are beyond your control—particularly the behavior of other people.
Find your inner child. Pay attention to children and try to emulate them—after all, they are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing at ordinary things.
Deal with stress. One great technique to relieve stress in the moment is to draw upon a favorite memory that always makes you smile—something your kids did, for example, or something funny a friend told you.
Think of it like exercise or breakfast and make a conscious effort to find something each day that makes you laugh. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes and do something that amuses you.
The ability to laugh, play, and have fun not only makes life more enjoyable but also helps you solve problems, connect with others, and think more creatively.
People who incorporate humor and play into their daily lives find that it renews them and all of their relationships. Life brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for your imagination. But when you play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for creative learning. Playing with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or afraid, they make their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions.
Interacting with others in playful ways helps you retain this creative ability. Here are two examples of people who took everyday problems and turned them around through laughter and play:. Roy , a semi-retired businessman, was excited to finally have time to devote to golf, his favorite sport.
But the more he played, the less he enjoyed himself. Although his game had improved dramatically, he got angry with himself over every mistake. Roy wisely realized that his golfing buddies affected his attitude, so he stopped playing with people who took the game too seriously. When he played with friends who focused more on having fun than on their scores, he was less critical of himself. Now golfing was as enjoyable as Roy had envisioned.
He scored better without working harder. And the brighter outlook he was gaining from his companions and the game spread to other parts of his life. Jane worked at home designing greeting cards, a job she used to love but now felt had become routine. Two little girls who loved to draw and paint lived next door. Eventually, Jane invited the girls over to play with all of her art supplies. At first, she just watched, but in time she joined in.
Not only did it end her loneliness and boredom, but it sparked her imagination and helped her artwork flourish.
As laughter, humor, and play become integrated into your life, your creativity will flourish and new opportunities for laughing with friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily.
Laughter takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, and joyful perspective. This holiday season alone, millions of people will turn to HelpGuide for free mental health guidance and support. So many people rely on us in their most difficult moments.
Can we rely on you? All gifts made before December 31 will be doubled. Cookie Policy. Learn how to harness the powerful benefits of laughter and humor. Laughter is good for your health Laughter relaxes the whole body. The Benefits of Laughter and Humor Physical health benefits Boosts immunity Lowers stress hormones Decreases pain Relaxes your muscles Prevents heart disease Mental health benefits Adds joy and zest to life Eases anxiety and tension Relieves stress Improves mood Strengthens resilience Social benefits Strengthens relationships Attracts others to us Enhances teamwork Helps defuse conflict Promotes group bonding Laughter helps you stay mentally healthy Laughter makes you feel good.
The link between laughter and mental health Laughter stops distressing emotions. How laughing together can strengthen relationships Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting.
Humor and laughter in relationships allows you to: Be more spontaneous. Release inhibitions. Your fear of holding back is pushed aside. Use humor to resolve disagreements and tension in your relationship Laughter is an especially powerful tool for managing conflict and reducing tension when emotions are running high. How to bring more laughter into your life Laughter is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Free from the shackles of negativity, people begin to see how to form a plan of attack to deal with the given situation.
Laughing at things that hurt can be cathartic and serve as a way for people to regain control over situations that left them feeling powerless. Even a chuckle after being admonished by a rude police officer can help you to let go of the small stuff. While we could all afford to take life a little less seriously, there are a few instances to tread carefully with laughter therapy. Using humor that could be construed negatively, such as sarcasm, can do further damage.
It's also important to consider the willingness of your patient -- not everyone is ready to let loose with the ho-ho-ho's as soon as they arrive in the hospital. It may be more suitable in the aftermath of a crisis or in a recovery situation [source: MacDonald ]. So, before you get yourself all worked up over something that seems like the end of the world, consider whether it wouldn't be easier to see what's playing on Comedy Central.
With a few good laughs, your cable bill can double as your therapist's bill. For more on how laughter and happiness can work wonders in your life, see the links on the next page. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close.
Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Life Science. Inside the Mind. What is laughter therapy?
Theory Behind Laughter Therapy " ". Laughing to Get Happy Humor is highly subjective -- what gives one person the giggles might just as easily put another to sleep. A Cautionary Note. Laughing at Things That Hurt " ". Instead of wallowing in embarrassment, consider how falling down the stairs in front of everyone could be turned into a funny anecdote.
How many calories do I burn when I laugh? Are happy people healthier? Are men or women happier? Can pets make you happy? Sources Abueva, Jobert E. It Works at Work. December Brody, Jane E. April 7, Though advocates claim it relieves stress and reduces your risk of chronic disease, you may wonder whether it really works.
Laughing yoga, also known as laughter yoga, involves a series of movement and breathing exercises to promote deliberate laughter.
Though laughing therapy has been used for decades, laughing yoga was discovered by Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician in Mumbai, India, in Kataria claims that laughing yoga will help lift your mood, reduce stress, strengthen your immune system , increase energy levels, improve your quality of life, and help you better manage hardship.
He believes that learning to laugh on cue can help you deal with stressful situations by promoting optimism and positivity. Since you cannot always rely on external influences to make you laugh, learning to laugh on your own can be a valuable tool.
Along with this, laughter yoga is believed to help you better manage stress through controlled breathing. As adults become busy with life, activities that promote laughter can go to the wayside. As a result, laughing yoga was designed to teach people how to laugh on cue rather than relying on people or things to bring them joy 2. Laughing yoga is accessible in over countries and becoming increasingly popular online. Furthermore, laughing coaches are bringing laughing yoga workshops directly to people in places like college campuses, workplaces, and senior living facilities.
Laughing yoga involves various movement and breathing exercises to promote intentional laughter. Laughing yoga is usually practiced in a group setting, such as a club or workshop, and led by a trained laughing yoga instructor that coaches attendees through various exercises to promote enjoyment and laughter. Most sessions begin with simple breathing techniques, clapping, and chanting to help people relax. Though it may seem silly at first, the intention of this exercise is to remove any internal judgment you may have and leave your ego at the door.
The session may also include improv exercises, citing positive affirmations , gentle stretching, yoga breath work, and meditation. Collectively, these practices are intended to help you laugh, let loose, and take yourself less seriously. A typical laughing yoga class will include breathing exercises, chanting, improv, and aspects of yoga to help you relax and laugh. However, more attention is being placed on the long-term benefits of regular, daily laughing.
Plus, it suppresses stress-hormones like cortisol. These effects are linked to a better mood, reduced pain, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and lower stress levels and rates of depression 3 , 4 , 5 , 6.
Many researchers believe that the body cannot distinguish between fake simulated or real spontaneous laughter, meaning you can benefit by simply forcing yourself to laugh 2.
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