Five major health benefits of having a laugh every day - according to science
A daily dose of laughter can boost your wellbeing in more ways than one, according to research published by Warwick University today.
Researchers found that using humour and having a giggle could help to ease stress, reduce feelings of loneliness, and cultivate a sense of empowerment.
Professor Stephanie Schnurr, an author of the study said: 'Laughter is an important channel to express feelings, show appreciation and create a positive atmosphere. Similarly, by embracing humour, individuals can find solace and resilience in the face of adversity.'
The hidden benefits of a laugh are manifold. For one, humour can often be a vehicle for discussing taboo topics, and witty asides can make intense and overwhelming situations just that little bit easier. The positive effects extend to our relationships too, and research shows that laughter helps us to bond with others.
We’ve summarised the five biggest benefits, below:
Silver linings
The ability of humour to make us look on the bright side of things can provide a significant wellbeing boost. Anyone who has unexpectedly burst out laughing in the wake of something traumatic can attest to the fact that making light of an otherwise distressing situation can provide relief from the intensity of life’s challenges.
According to the researchers, the ability to have a laugh in difficult situations also helps us to remember that the situation may not be as bad as we think. There's also a sense of catharsis that comes with giving voice to your deepest, darkest thoughts (albeit in a humorous context).
Empowerment
By zooming out and having a chuckle, laughter also has the ability to give us a feeling of control. If we're laughing, does this bad thing that's just happened actually have that much power over us?
According to researchers, a quick giggle can make us feel empowered to take charge of the predicaments we find ourselves in.
Stress relief
On a more biological level, laughter is a valuable outlet for emotional expression, which provides boosts to our overall physical and mental wellbeing in general.
If you’re partial to irony and sarcasm in particular, it looks like these kinds of humour can function particularly well as a release valve for stress and tension.
Perspective shift
In addition to helping us see the bright side, humour can also help us to look at life's challenges in new ways by reframing our perceptions.
'Humour creates a new version of reality that is easier to live in, less scary, and less likely to cause fear,' professor Stephanie Schnurr explained.
In the workplace, this could be particularly useful. ‘Humour can also help people criticise their boss and communicate alternative views without running the risk of being shot down for disagreeing with the boss,’ she added.
Bond-building
A wry smile and a chuckle can also help us to feel closer to other people. According to the researchers, this is particularly useful in job interviews where relationship-building can be key to success.
Still, laughing with people should be distinguished from the less positive behavioural trait of laughing at them, with the former helping to show that you understand and like your conversational partner – with consequential happiness boosts for you both.
Yanyan Li, fellow author and applied linguistics student said: ‘Sharing a laugh is an excellent way to display affiliation and togetherness. Especially in a workplace context where often expectations and pressures are high, humour and laughter are useful tools to improve wellbeing and to make our own – and our colleagues’ lives – a little more enjoyable.'
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