Life can feel very stressful these days, especially with the ever-increasing demands of our attention from family, coworkers, and bosses. Sometimes we can forget to enjoy all the little things in life, and sit back and laugh. In fact, studies have shown that laughter can be one of the biggest stress reducers in our lives, and everyone could use a good laugh every now and then. Unfortunately, many people, especially stressed-out adults, don’t laugh often enough. One study found that healthy children may laugh as much as 400 times per day, but adults tend to laugh only 15 times per day. An obvious and unfortunate reason for this large disparity is likely due to the increased stress and reduced joy in adults’ lives, leading them to laugh less. However, there are ways we can incorporate more laughter into our lives.
Sometimes when we get too involved in the tasks at hand, we take ourselves too seriously, and may even refuse outright to have fun. If we laugh at ourselves every once in a while, instead of getting caught up in the frustration if something goes wrong with our day, we can reduce the levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, and increase endorphins, in addition to possibly relieving health issues like high blood pressure. So, instead of cursing at your steering wheel when you leave your coffee thermos on the roof of your car and hear it tumble to the ground just as you’re heading off to work, smile and laugh at your forgetfulness instead. Life is too short to let the little things pile up and stress you out. A smile and a laugh can work like magic to make the stress response melt away.
Laughter can also be beneficial to reducing other symptoms of stress, increasing your intake of oxygen, thus reinvigorating your heart, lungs, and muscles, and stimulate circulation and muscle relaxation. Whereas while you’re stressed out, your breathing may be shallow, muscles tensed up, and circulation poor, which over the long term may contribute to health problems. If you’re having a stressful day at work, grab your phone, head to the break room, and watch a quick cat video. With the wonders of the internet, you can relieve your stress in 30 seconds flat. To live a more relaxed, stress-free life, don’t forget to laugh every now and then.
Would like to have more laughter in your life and workplace? Get Laughterworks to deliver a laughter session at your workplace or next conference or event? Contact us: info@laughterworks.com.au, or 0438 545 607
Laughter- The Best Stress Buster? http://t.co/yGjTb7EWcl
— Cris Popp (@laughterpopp) December 21, 2014