Worked up with deadlines, mounting pressure of work, handling strained relationships or delayed responses? Try laughing at something silly or funny and see how you instantly feel better. The situation you are in may remain but the humour will have helped relax those frayed nerves. You will find yourself lighter, in a better mood, manifesting a calm and relaxed demeanour. Humour can turn even the most stressful situation into a manageable one and can be an ice-breaker too. It paves the way for further communication in a relaxed atmosphere.
With stress increasingly becoming a part of our lives, the importance of humour or laughter has become even more significant. International Joke Day is celebrated every year on July 1 – it was started in the mid-90s by Wayne Reinagel, an American author who created the day to promote his books on jokes. The day comes as a reminder that jokes and the emanating laughter makes life better, lowers stress and boosts mental wellbeing.
We often find children giggling, even at unfunny situations as perceived by adults. In fact, a study by Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humour has found that an adult laughs an average of about 17 reported laughs per day. As we grow up, we develop a serious attitude, foregoing our ability to find humour in every situation and consequently laugh less.
In order to reclaim our natural disposition towards humour and laughter, people are now flocking to start their day with laughter therapy by gathering in neighbourhood gardens for laughter sessions. Meeting someone over a good laugh can attenuate our mental wellbeing manifold. Cracking jokes, indulging in humorous banter spreads laughter, enhancing health.
On International Joke Day, we share how humour improves mental health and our overall wellbeing.
Feel good
Crack a joke, watch a comedy show or read a funny meme to simply find your stress evaporating. Now, remember that a little stress is helpful and acts as a driver to solve the problem. However, when it acquires overwhelming proportions, it starts to hamper our mental agility, decision-making, growth and impacts physical wellbeing too.
When you giggle, the brain releases endorphins, the neurotransmitters that make you feel good. Just like exercising, positive thinking and laughing too helps in release of these ‘feel good’ hormones, lifting your spirits. Laughing activates body’s stress response mechanism and that makes us feel much better and lighter.
When we are stressed, it is cortisol, the primary stress hormone that circulates throughout the body. Laughter helps in decreasing the elevated levels of cortisol by increasing the intake of oxygen and circulation throughout the body.
Boost immunity
When you visit a doctor for any physical ailment, apart from the prescribed medicines, he often advises you to remain happy. Even if you are fighting a battle against a severe and challenging physical ailment, humour and laughter has the power to help you tide over the frailty. When you laugh, you automatically inhale more air, giving more oxygen to your lungs, heart and muscles. This improves the functioning of these vital organs.
When stressed, negative thoughts can lead to chemical reactions, decreasing immunity. Humour and laughing helps in releasing infection-fighting antibodies. When one’s physical health is better, they feel energetic and enthusiastic as well, thus paving way for a sound mental health too.
Combat mood swings
Our moods fluctuate throughout the day. Further, decreasing levels of insulin, which regulate the body’s energy supply, can lead to irritability. Laughing provides a sense of wellbeing, breaking the pattern of worrisome thoughts. When we laugh, it signals the brain to release neurotransmitters which help us in lifting our mood.
So if you are feeling low, laughter could be your instant fix. It is absolutely free, has no side-effects, uplifts you and attracts others to join you in the bonhomie.
Enhance positivity and bonding
“Laugh and the world laughs with you,’’ is what we have heard many times while growing up. Laughter is infectious. You may have noticed that when you crack a joke, even strangers seem pulled towards you to share the joy. This further enhances bonding and makes you win friends in the process. A strong and dependable circle of friends is essential to maintain a good and balanced mental state; not just buddies who stay for the good times but the kind that gives you a shoulder even in the bad times.
In fact, conflicting situations within the family, workplace or any other place can be salvaged by using laughter as it helps dissipate the building stress.
Spreading laughter is one of the best ways to build a better world, one that shares happiness and joy, melts troubles and adds to each other’s mental wellbeing.
FAQs
How does laughing help in lowering stress?
When we are stressed, Cortisol is the primary stress hormone that circulates throughout the body. Laughter helps in decreasing the elevated levels of cortisol by increasing the intake of oxygen and circulation throughout the body.
When is International Joke Day?
International Joke Day is celebrated every year on July 1. It was started in the mid-90s by Wayne Reinagel, an American author who created the day to promote his books on jokes.
How does humour help in combating mood swings?
Laughing provides a sense of wellbeing, breaking the pattern of worrisome thoughts. When we laugh, it signals the brain to release neurotransmitters which help us in lifting our mood.