One of the best things about CCFLers is they have a great sense of humor. Have you ever thought about the effect of laughter in our workspace?
CCFL does serious work that deals with serious issues. But what is truly wonderful, is that there are several CCFLers in particular who have these incredible, contagious laughs and who are not afraid to laugh out loud and often. I do not even have to be in on the joke, and I still smile every time I hear their laughter in the office.
We all are familiar with the old proverb, “Laughter is the best medicine,” and science is beginning to agree. More and more emerging studies are touting the life-giving, medicinal properties of laughter.
“The Laughter Prescription: A Tool for Lifestyle Medicine,” written by Dexter Louie, BA, Karolina Brook, MD and Elizabeth Frates, MD, notes that, “Laughter is a normal and natural physiologic response to certain stimuli with widely acknowledged psychological benefits. However, current research is beginning to show that laughter may also have serious positive physiological effects for those who engage in it on a regular basis.”
In her article, “10 Reasons You Should Always Laugh Out Loud,” Louise Jensen provides this list of laughter benefits:
1. Laughter releases feel-good endorphins into your system, which can help to relieve pain.
2. Laughter contracts your abdominal muscles and gets your shoulders moving giving you a mini-workout.
3. Laughter increases blood flow and improves the function of blood vessels, which can help protect the heart.
4. Laughter has a relaxing effect on the whole body for up to 45 minutes afterwards.
5. Laughter initially raises blood pressure, then reduces it, leaving a lower blood pressure than normal.
6. Laughter can be contagious, increasing happiness and intimacy, thus enhancing relationships.
7. Laughter speeds up metabolism and heart rate, which could help you lose weight.
8. Laughter expels more air than normal breathing, which has a cleansing effect on the lungs.
9. Laughter reduces anxiety and helps relieve depression by reducing stress and releasing pent-up tension.
10. Laughter increases the number of T-cells in your body, giving your immune system a boost.
So if you are experiencing a busy or stressful workday, try taking a 5-minute laughter break. It can help clear your mind, relieve tension and enable you to have more productive intercommunication through complex issues.
At home be intentional about watching funny TV shows, reading books by hilarious authors or just choosing to laugh through life’s little absurdities.
Need something to laugh about right now? There is no way not to laugh along with this adorableness:
https://youtu.be/RP4abiHdQpc
Or if you are more interested in the health benefits than the actual humor, you can always check out this awesomely awkward TED talk about the benefits of fake laughing—AKA laughter yoga.
https://youtu.be/-HJG63EXCmw
Want to conduct a little experiment this week? Consider seeking out the silly, chasing down some chuckles, going-all-in with the guffaws, trying to find the funny in every day and then seeing how it makes you feel. Do you feel lighter? Are your muscles more relaxed? Is your mind sharper? Are you able to accomplish more? Do you feel happier?
There are moments in this life and work that are deadly serious. But it is important to remember to keep looking for life-giving opportunities to laugh out loud. Because laughing out loud is good for your health!
More Laughs:
https://youtu.be/_OBlgSz8sSM
https://youtu.be/IiCxQxgBqsI
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/09/28/hearty-humor-by-jonny-hawkins
Laughter Reading & Resources: https://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2016/summer/humor-therapy-nursing-medicine
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456
https://www.aath.org
Citations:
1. Tarvin, Andrew. “101 Funny Work Jokes to Get You Through Your Day.” Humor that Works. https://www.humorthatworks.com/database/funny-work-jokes-to-get-you-through-the-day.
2. Louie, Dexter, Karolina Brook and Elizabeth Frates. “The Laughter Prescription: A Tool for Lifestyle Medicine.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. June 23, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125057.
3. Jensen, Louise. “10 Reasons You Should Always Laugh Out Loud.” MindBodyGreen. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8066/10-reasons-you-should-always-laugh-out-loud.html.