(Day 18)
30 Days of Self-Care Information and Strategies – Kristin Cowart, MSW, LCSW
Laughter is actually good for your health. It boosts your immune system, relaxes your body, releases endorphins and may even help you live longer. Read more about The Health Benefits of Laughter.
Even more importantly, though, laughter can be a great way to cope during difficult times. In why we should take laughter more seriously (13 min), cognitive neuroscientist Sophie Scott argues that laughter is actually a complex social behavior that signals a lot more than just a successful joke.
Need some quick ideas? Take a look at these suggestions from How Laughter Can Relieve Stress + Ideas to Laugh it Off.
- Follow a funny meme account: There’s a reason funny memes go viral. They make people laugh! Follow some funny meme accounts to put a smile on your face every time you hop on social media.
- Create a Pinterest board: Start a Pinterest board full of things that make you laugh, like quotes or hilarious pictures. Next time you find something on the internet that makes you smile, pin it to your board so you can look at it next time you’re feeling stressed.
- Spend time with pets: Pets, such as dogs and cats, are a source of laughter and joy for many people. If you don’t have a pet, consider asking a friend to pet-sit theirs or volunteer at an animal shelter in your free time.
- Listen to a funny podcast: On your way to work or school, listen to a funny podcast to start your day off with a laugh.
- Try laughter yoga: Laughter yoga is a new take on yoga that encourages prolonged voluntary laughter. Try out a class by yourself or take it with a friend next time you’re feeling stressed.
- Laugh at yourself: Learning to laugh at yourself is one of the best ways you can add more laughter into your life. Next time you do something that would otherwise upset you, try to find the positive in the situation.
- Alter your environment: Your environment can play a huge part in your mood. Reshape your work or study area to include things that make you smile, like a picture with friends from a funny night out, or a photo of your dog in a hilarious costume.
- Host a game night: Nothing beats a shared laugh. Invite some friends over for a game night and play party-style games like Charades or Apples to Apples.
- Watch YouTube videos: Need a quick laugh? Head to YouTube. Search anything from jumping cats to funny clips from your favorite show for a fast and easy pick-me-up.
- Spend time with playful people: We tend to be influenced by the people we hang around. Make an effort to hang out more with the funniest friend in your circle. Ask them to get coffee or lunch and talk about the silly things that happened in your day.
