That five minutes you spent chuckling at silly videos can actually reap health benefits.
The last thing I wanted to do was go to a comedy club.
I had to finish a freelance story, edit my latest podcast episode, pack for an upcoming trip and run a bunch of errands. Did I really have the time to sit in a packed nightclub listening to a comedian I’d never heard of?
But I went, because these were dear friends we hadn’t seen in a while. And you know what? I ended up spending two hours laughing so hard that my jaw and abs hurt. That night, I fell asleep easily and stayed asleep for eight hours. Which, as you may know, is rare for a woman in the throes of perimenopause.
We all know that laughter is a great distraction from life’s problems. But there’s actually a scientific reason why you should inject more laughter into your life: It induces physical changes in your body that can improve not just your mood but your health.
“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.” —Reba McEntire
The medical community has long recognized the benefits of humor. In the 1300s, French surgeon Henri de Mondeville propagated post-operative therapy with humor. In the 1970s, journalist and professor Norman Cousins conducted research on the biochemistry of human emotions and developed a laughter therapy to help people improve their mood and combat physical pain. According to Cousins, just 10 minutes of laughter resulted in two hours of pain-free sleep. Who couldn’t do with more of that?
In midlife, you’re dealing with a lot: aging parents, figuring out your next career or retirement steps, safeguarding your health, and possibly raising teenagers. The good news is that laughter can be a great stress relief for all of it.
A good belly laugh reduces production of the stress hormone cortisol and triggers a discharge of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers) that make you feel happier and calmer. It also relaxes your muscles and decreases your heart rate, blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, further contributing to your sense of wellbeing.
Laughter also has long-term health benefits. It can improve your immune system by releasing neuropeptides that reduce stress and may help ward off illnesses. In addition, by stimulating the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (a molecule that supports brain function and memory), it can keep keep your mind sharp and improve memory.
And who knew: Laughter can also be a form of exercise. One minute of laughing burns the same number of calories as six to 10 minutes on a treadmill!
At its core, laughter is form of play that can make you feel like a kid again. It can also help you connect—or reconnect—with others. Remember back in the day, when you and a friend sat in a quiet classroom, trying hard to suppress giggles after someone said something funny? Well, you’re never too old to get into a laughing fit with a pal.
Grab a funny pal and start laughing.
The greatest thing about laughter is that it’s absolutely free—no need to purchase a ticket to a comedy club to start cracking up. You can watch a funny movie or TV show, or stream some stand-up tracks the next time you’re driving. You can pick up the phone and call up a friend who makes you laugh, or, better yet, get together with a few humorous pals.
You can even try something new called Laughter Yoga, which encourages participants to mimic the act of laughing in order to reap its benefits.
It’s also a great idea to inject your workspace with some humor. I’ve tacked a couple of my favorite New Yorker cartoons onto the bulletin board above my desk. If I’m starting to feel stressed or overworked, I just read the captions and have a chuckle.
The bottom line: Laughter can be just what the doctor ordered, especially in midlife.
For more tips on how to manage stress and inject more relaxation into your life, read “How to Stay Calm During Turbulent Times”
