The Power of Laughter

There is nothing more contagious or heartwarming than the sound of laughter from small children. When you hear it, you just can’t help but smile. As adults, we spend an incredible amount of time being serious, responsible, and focused. We are ‘in charge’ of something like a work project, family safety and finances, or (for some of us) just overseeing ourselves! Somehow, as we walk into adulthood, we seem to leave behind laughter and play. Children are so playful: a stick can be a magic wand, a light saber once used by Luke Skywalker, or start of a fort. But to adults, it’s usually just a stick (in the mud). 

Children laugh an average of 400 times every day. Being a responsible adult doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and laugh!  Adults only laugh 15-20 times each day; that is just not enough. To appeal to your intellectual mind, remember that laughter is a physical and psychological response of our bodies to a stimulus that varies in intensity and frequency.  

Health and Wellness Benefits of Laughter

• Leads to an increase in respiratory activity and oxygen exchange
• Increases muscular activity of the respiratory system and of the arms, legs, and face
• Stimulates the cardiovascular system
• Produces a state of arousal, followed by a state of relaxation where respiration, heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure go below our pre-laughter levels
• Reduces stress
• Burns 10-40 calories per 10-15 minutes of laughter daily
• Releases endorphins, which are natural pain killers, into our system
• Engages left and right sides of the brain, bringing our creative/logical and intuitive/factual capabilities into play

Give yourself permission to—every now and then—not take everything too seriously.

Many of you may have a scientific background, so review the health and wellness benefits again and believe in the POWER of laughter! Yes, we all have responsibilities, and I’m not suggesting we give that up. Nor am I saying you should use humor at others’ expense, of course not. But having a good belly laugh doesn’t make you less ‘adult’; it makes you a healthier adult. 

Get social

• The #1 catalyst for laughter isn’t a joke, it’s social interaction. 
• You are 30 times more likely to laugh when around others than by yourself. Laughter is contagious, and most people like being around others who laugh, enhancing social connections.
• 10 minutes of conversation typically leads to 5.8 bouts of laughter
• Get your family together for fun, it’ll show the children you are not that boring stick (in the mud).
• Plan a party, here is a website for kid-friendly birthday fun.

Laughter Activity Suggestions

• Organize game night with your family/friends:
  • Cards, dice, board games, outdoor games, etc.
    
  • Favorite games include Mexican Train, Shut The Box, Corn Hole, Chicken, ol’ fashioned Clue and Crokinole
    
  • Children love music and movement such as dance, freeze dance and even a little Hokey Pokey.
• If socializing isn’t in the cards or puzzles, then indulge in your favorite sitcom or movie and let yourself be a kid again

So here, right now, I’m giving you permission—nay, I’m telling you—get out there and laugh! What a wonderful, healthy, powerful gift to give yourself!