Worked up with deadlines, mounting pressure of work, handling strained relationships or delayed responses? Try laughing at something silly or funny and see how you instantly feel better. The situation you are in may remain but the humour will have helped relax those frayed nerves. You will find yourself lighter, in a better mood, manifesting a calm and relaxed demeanour. Humour can turn even the most stressful situation into a manageable one and can be an ice-breaker too. It paves the way for further communication in a relaxed atmosphere.
With stress increasingly becoming a part of our lives, the importance of humour or laughter has become even more significant. International Joke Day is celebrated every year on July 1 – it was started in the mid-90s by Wayne Reinagel, an American author who created the day to promote his books on jokes. The day comes as a reminder that jokes and the emanating laughter makes life better, lowers stress and boosts mental wellbeing.
We often find children giggling, even at unfunny situations as perceived by adults. In fact, a study by Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humour has found that an adult laughs an average of about 17 reported laughs per day. As we grow up, we develop a serious attitude, foregoing our ability to find humour in every situation and consequently laugh less.
In order to reclaim our natural disposition towards humour and laughter, people are now flocking to start their day with laughter therapy by gathering in neighbourhood gardens for laughter sessions. Meeting someone over a good laugh can attenuate our mental wellbeing manifold. Cracking jokes, indulging in humorous banter spreads laughter, enhancing health.
On International Joke Day, we share how humour improves mental health and our overall wellbeing.
Crack a joke, watch a comedy show or read a funny meme to simply find your stress evaporating. Now, remember that a little stress is helpful and acts as a driver to solve the problem. However, when it acquires overwhelming proportions, it starts to hamper our mental agility, decision-making, growth and impacts physical wellbeing too.
When you giggle, the brain releases endorphins, the neurotransmitters that make you feel good. Just like exercising, positive thinking and laughing too helps in release of these ‘feel good’ hormones, lifting your spirits. Laughing activates body’s stress response mechanism and that makes us feel much better and lighter.
When we are stressed, it is cortisol, the primary stress hormone that circulates throughout the body. Laughter helps in decreasing the elevated levels of cortisol by increasing the intake of oxygen and circulation throughout the body.
When we are stressed, Cortisol is the primary stress hormone that circulates throughout the body. Laughter helps in decreasing the elevated levels of cortisol by increasing the intake of oxygen and circulation throughout the body.
International Joke Day is celebrated every year on July 1. It was started in the mid-90s by Wayne Reinagel, an American author who created the day to promote his books on jokes.
Laughing provides a sense of wellbeing, breaking the pattern of worrisome thoughts. When we laugh, it signals the brain to release neurotransmitters which help us in lifting our mood.
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