One aspect of self-care that is often overlooked is laughter. The average adult laughs 17 times a day while a child laughs 300 times a day. Though you are probably focused on completing your obligations each day, that doesn’t mean you can’t find time for humor and lightheartedness. As E. E. Cummings said, “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” Here are some of the benefits of seeking out laughter and how to go about incorporating it into your day.
Benefits of Laughter
Embrace the moments of levity in your life. Finding humor and laughter in stressful situations can provide a sense of perspective and turn an overwhelming moment into a manageable challenge. Laughing can reduce stress and improve your mood, giving you more emotional space to handle difficult experiences. Additionally, it’s good for your physical health by helping to enhance your immune system and relieve pain.
Seek Out Joy and Laughter
Think about the times you belly laughed until you cried. Who were you with? Spend more time with them. After interactions with people, ask yourself, “Do I feel better or worse?” Life is too short to be with people who bring you down. Having a good sense of humor will also make others want to be around you.
If you know you’re going to experience a particularly difficult period in your life, bolster your emotional defenses by planning a calendar of events or activities with the people who you enjoy being around. A positive mood is infectious, and gathering fun, lighthearted people around you during tough times can make the experience easier to work through.
Other Sources of Humor
Social media can potentially be a time waster and cause feelings of negativity. However, you can curate your feed so that it brings you a steady stream of positivity and humor. Follow accounts that make you laugh or bring light to your day. Alternatively, unfollow accounts that tend to make you feel down.
You could listen to comedy podcasts during your commute to school or work or while running errands. There are also numerous comedy specials, shows, and movies on streaming platforms. Ask your friends and classmates for recommendations and remember the shows you enjoyed to share with others who might need a good laugh to turn around a particularly tough day.