Zim’s Healthy Living: The Benefits of Laughing

Ha ha ha ha! Oh sorry that’s us over here laughing. Today is April Fools! It’s the day to play goofs on your friends and family and get a good laugh in. We know some can take this day too far and be mean but at it’s core it’s a good thing to get a good laugh in whenever we can, not just on the first of April.

Having a good laugh is not just a pleasant activity but it can help our bodies in many ways. According to the Mayo Clinic laughter can:

1. Boosts our organs- Laughter increases our oxygen intake which stimulates our heart, lungs and muscles, and increases endorphins released by the brain
2. Reduces stress- “a rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down our stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result a good, relaxed feeling”
3. Muscle relaxation- laughter can aid in muscle relaxation which helps reduce physical symptoms of stress and chronic pain.
4. Improve our immune system- positive thoughts show in our bodies as chemical reactions that impact our brain and can help us be less depressed.
5. Increase personal satisfaction- “laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps us connect with other people”

Most public speakers will tell you there’s nothing like a good joke to break the ice and get people invested in what you are saying. This technique can be taken too far where people get annoyed but a well placed joke can put everyone at ease and make for a better learning environment going forward.

Laughter is also a great way of getting to see each other’s personalities and gives insight into who they really are. There’s nothing better than when a little child makes their first jokes and they light up knowing they made Mom and Dad (or Aunt and Uncle) laugh. When they are old enough get kids a simple knock knock joke book. They will get a kick out of it as will the entire family.

We hope this April Fools you find yourself giggling away with friends and family. Life is too short to not have a good laugh each day.

Happy April Fools!