We hear it all the time – Laughter is the best medicine, you’ll feel better if you had a good laugh. True we usually do feel better when we’ve had a good laugh but what really are the benefits of a good ol fashioned LAUGH?
Well I came across a great article yesterday that I wanted to share with you titled “Laughter is the Best Medicine”.
According to Dr William Fry of Stanford University he found that laughing 200 times burns off the same amount of calories as ten minutes on a rowing machine. And beyond just the physical, other research has highlighted laughter’s benefits to also our cognitive and emotional well-being, including:
- Increased creativity
- Improved problem-solving
- Enhanced memory (for humorous material)
- Increased ability to cope with stress, by providing an alternative, less serious perspective on one’s problems
- Elevated mood and feelings of well-being
- Reduced depression, anxiety, and tension
- Increased self-esteem and resilience
- Increased hope, optimism, energy, and vigour
These are some great benefits, so how can we increase our laughter…..
- Consciously smile more — this puts us that much closer to laughing and as our bodies don’t know the difference: ‘fake it til you make it’
- Laugh at ourselves — when we find ourselves taking something way too seriously, stop and have a chuckle at our foibles and human nature
- Share your silly or embarrassing stories with others — at least get a laugh out of life’s little quirks
- Think back to the last time you really laughed … uncontrollably — let it generate a chuckle
- Incorporate elements of games and silly ritual into your workday
This is just a snapshot of what I found in this article so if you’d like to find out some other benefits, you can read the full article here. Or better still, get in touch with us at Laughterworks and see how we can bring more laughter into your life and your workplace.