You may have heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine”, but did you know that studies show it supplies both short-term and long-term health benefits? So, whether you’re giggling at something someone said or laughing out loud through events and activities, a good laugh is not only fun but healthy for you too!
Health benefits of laughter include:
- Organ Stimulation: Laughter can increase the intake of oxygen while also stimulating the heart, lungs, and blood vessels
- Stress Relief: Laughter reduces stress hormones in the body by releasing endorphins in the brain
- Relief from Tension: Laughter stimulates rapid blood circulation, which can help in lowering your blood pressure
- A Boost to the Immune System: Laughter improves the immune system
- Pain Relief: Laughter can assist the body in producing natural painkillers
- Positivity: Laughter can help get you through tough situations and enable the body and mind to relax. It can also help to improve alertness, creativity, and memory
- Improving Mood: Laughter can lift your spirits by helping to reduce anxiety and depression, making you happier
Laughter Helps You Connect with Others
Along with all the health benefits of laughter, it can also help you connect with others, which can have an overwhelming effect on all aspects of mental health. BGSF hosted our 3rd company-wide Virtual Trivia to improve our health with comradery and fun! When you connect with your teammates through humor, you are better able to provide solutions, inspire hope, and remain more focused and alert.
Give Yourself a Daily Dose of Laughter
Laughter stops distressing emotions – it’s more difficult to feel anxious, sad, or angry when you’re laughing. Find ways to incorporate healthy laughter into your day – Find a friend, read a funny book, laugh at your pet, listen to a comedy podcast, watch some TikToks and don’t take yourself too seriously!
Remember, laughter is contagious!
Other Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health
While laughter is an amazing way to enhance your mental health, it’s important to remember there are other ways to prioritize your mental health.
Start by elevating your psychological resiliency, which refers your ability to be flexible and adapt to the inevitable challenges of life. Building resilience to inevitable changes and challenges in life doesn’t happen overnight, it can help you cope with and manage stressors. This is a particularly helpful skill in the workplace given ever-changing technology, staffing changes, and shifting of job responsibilities.
Improve your psychological resiliency and overall mental health by:
- Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle: Begin making healthier lifestyle choices – prioritize sleep, eat health, stay hydrated, and stay physically active
- Practicing Self-Care: Start making choices that not only take care of YOU, but make you happy
- Maintaining an Optimistic Outlook: Don’t dwell on the negatives, look for the positives in each day and adopt a growth mindset
Other ways to prioritize your mental health:
- Meditation: Maintaining your mental health during uncertain times, hello pandemic, can be challenging – take charge today by meditating
- Spring Cleaning: Don’t just clean out your closet this Spring, take time to refresh your mind and body
What steps will you take to make your mental health a priority this month and beyond?
Sources: Brown & Brown company newsletter and HelpGuide.org