laughter

How is your day going? Is everyone in your life healthy and happy? What about you? Are you overloaded, overwhelmed, stressed out from the pressures of everyday life? If so, how do you deal with all the stress that comes at you all the time?

There are many ways to deal with stress. What works for some may not be viable for others. However, the consensus seems to point to one thing that works for…well, everyone, and that is laughter. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘laughter is the best medicine’. I couldn’t agree more! The more I practice it the more I’m convinced that the phrase above is dead on.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many health benefits to laughter when dealing with stress, both short term and long term. Laughing has an effect on us both mentally and physically. Short term it can enhance our oxygen intake, stimulate many organs and increases endorphins released by our brain. It can also boost circulation to relax muscles which reduces stress.

Laughing also has significant long term benefits to improve overall health. One huge benefit is that it can improve your immune system. This is how it works – when you’re laughing, it’s difficult to be negative. Positive thoughts cause your brain to release neuropeptides, which fights stress and other more serious illnesses.

So the next time you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, or just the stress of everyday life, find something to make you laugh your stress away. As mentioned earlier in this post, what works for some may not be viable for others. Find something that works for you, and practice it regularly for the long term benefits, as well as the thing that is causing you stress at the moment. The list below has ideas that you may or may not have thought about. Check it out and let me know if you have another idea that isn’t on this list.

• Watch tv for the commercials – there are some really funny ones out there, especially the ones with kids and animals

• Go to a comedy club

• Spend time with family and friends that make you laugh

• Pets do some really goofy things, play with them

• Sitcoms on tv

• Go to or rent & watch a funny movie

• Visit your local zoo – again, animals do some really funny things

• Listen to a recording of your favorite comedian

• Read the funny pages