We all enjoy a good laugh, but did you know that the benefits of laughter go far beyond just feeling good in the moment? Scientists have spent years studying laughter and the effects it can have on a person. Luckily for us, laughter can be a good medicine and help reduce our stress levels. Adding laughter to your self-care routine can be beneficial to you and everyone around you when it comes to boosting your mood. We’ll walk you through all of the benefits you can see from laughing every day.
What Are the Benefits of Laughter?
While laughter can’t cure every problem in your life, there are both short-term and long-term benefits to laughing every day. Let’s take a look at what a good laugh can do for you:
Short-term Benefits
- Activates a healthy stress response: When you’re stressed, your body’s natural response is to release cortisol also called the “stress hormone.” This can have a negative effect on your body as it can suppress your immune system. When you laugh, it helps balance out your body’s cortisol levels to bring them back to normal.
- Induces relaxation: A stressed mind can cause your body to tense up making it hard to relax. When you laugh, it can help you to relax and untense your muscles.
- Relieves pain: Endorphins are released in your brain when you truly let go and laugh. Endorphins act as a natural painkiller which can ease any physical pain you might be experiencing at the time.
Long-term Benefits
- Boosts immune system: Your body is more susceptible to getting sick when you are stressed out. You can combat this through laughter as it produces antibodies that help fight off infections.
- Helps your heart: A good belly laugh is also beneficial to your heart. As your heart rate rises, the amount of oxygen flowing to your heart also increases.
- Can boost baby’s development: When you’re pregnant, hormones constantly fluctuate, leaving you with mood swings. Therefore, laughter can be so helpful in alleviating stress and sadness which helps your baby grow.
Make Laughter a Part of Your Day (Every Day)
There are many tools out there for adding laughter and joy in your life. Now that you understand the benefits of what laughter can do, you can incorporate it into your everyday life through self care. Laughing with your friends and family is always a great way to do this. Whether you’re reminiscing about old times or you watch a silly comedy with them, simple pleasures can be great ways to get a laugh. Life isn’t always full of laughter, but you can find humor in your life by making the choice to laugh about frustrations rather than complaining about them.
Hope makes it a priority to practice self-care activities each day, whether it’s reading a book or spending time with family and friends. If you haven’t had the chance to read her latest book “Your Body Is Magic,” which includes loads of pre- and post-partum advice, you can order a copy on Amazon to help you navigate through pregnancy and motherhood (and even give you a laugh or two).