I'm laughing and I hope you do, too.
At least sometimes.
Laughter decreases levels of cortisol and epinephrine, and releases dopamine and serotonin. This makes you feel less stressed, more relaxed, and happier (study).
Laughter also improves your immune system by enhancing the effectiveness of T-cells (study) and increasing the number of antibody-producing cells (study).
Besides the research, laughing just feels refreshing. And it's contagious, so people around you can enjoy it, too!
Some people laugh less than others, and I'm certainly a smile-more-laugh-less type of person. So a few years ago I made the deliberate choice to laugh out loud more.
Tips for laughing more:
- Spend time with people who make you laugh
- Find comics, videos or jokes that make you laugh and save them for when you need some humour
- Just laugh - smiling on purpose can make you happier (study), so laughing on purpose could do the same thing
“Laughter lets me relax. It’s the equivalent of taking a deep breath, letting it out and saying, ‘This, too, will pass’.” — Odette Pollar
Reading Recommendations
Mindful laughter: A mind-body health practice
“Learn how laughter builds resiliency to stress and disease, strengthens muscle and builds lung capacity — as well as how to cultivate it into your daily life.”
This Is Why Some People Are Ticklish—and Others Aren't
“If you’re one of those people who starts giggling before the other person’s hands are even on you, you probably wonder what’s up with that. It’s about surprise and anticipation—as well as context. ‘The giggling in anticipation often happens with someone you are comfortable with—not a complete stranger,’ Walf says.”
“As devices continue to diversify in dizzying ways, how can we make sure our work on the web stays as relevant as ever for the long haul? Cathy Dutton shares how practitioners must design for the unexpected.”
Weekly Mindfulness Practice
Take a deep breath and let everything go.
Close your eyes.
Think about one thing, moment, or person who made you happy today.
Enjoy that feeling for a few breaths.
Open your eyes with a smile.
End Note
If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with someone you know. Just forward them this email.
Have a great week
Simon
PS: What do you think about this? Please hit reply and let me know. I'm curious!