Laughter is the best medicine. 

Two girls laughing

Many of my childhood memories revolve around humor and laughter. I remember watching variety shows with my mom: Laugh In, The Sonny & Cher Show, and of course, The Carol Burnett Show. As I trace my way back, I remember watching I Love Lucy before Mom called us for dinner every day. And as I grew older, I found comedians to be a big part of my upbringing, from Red Fox, Steve Martin and—one of my favorites—Robin Williams. 

I see now that absorbing all that wonderful humor and laughing helped mold me, and my outlook on life. As children, we have less responsibilities and less stress, but as we become adults, life tends to become more serious. Responsibilities grow and sometimes laughter falls lower on our priority list. 

Studies have shown, though, that the old adage is true: Laughter IS the best medicine. It can be a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict.  Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. 

Here are five reasons why you should start laughing more each day.

1. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

2. Laughter reduces the stress response. When you laugh, there’s a contraction of muscles, which increases blood flow and oxygenation. This stimulates the heart and lungs and triggers the release of endorphins, relieving physical tension and stress.

3. Laughter increases resilience. Resilience is the ability to see failure as natural progression to success rather than as a negative outcome. People who are resilient are happier and more successful. Laughing at mistakes allows us to recognize that making errors is a part of being human.

4. Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.

5. Laughter burns calories. It’s not a replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn about 40 calories. I guess I’ll follow up my next dessert by watching a Will Ferrell movie! 

The best way to try to make sure laughter is a priority, is to try not to take life so seriously. Try to enjoy as many moments of laughter throughout each day as you can. Remember—your ability to laugh can be cultivated with practice, so start by prioritizing more fun. If you don’t know where to start, then start with a smile. Smiling is the beginning of laugh, and, like laughter, it’s contagious. If you need further help, here’s a list to get you thinking.

Fun ways to bring more humor into your life. 

  • Spend time with fun, playful people
  • Watch a funny movie, TV show, or YouTube video
  • Enjoy a night out at a comedy club
  • Try a “laughter yoga” class
  • Do something silly
  • Read a funny book or comic book
  • Goof around with children
  • Play with a pet
  • Host game night with friends