Whether it’s pun, toilet humor, political satire or just plain bad joke, we all love being made to laugh. Laughter is arguably the most essential ingredient in any life worth living. But when the going gets tough, even a simple smile can be hard to come by, much less the deep belly laughs that lift our mood, improve our relationships and boost our confidence.
Why laughing is good for you
Scientists have discovered that a sense of humor doesn’t just make you feel better — it does wonders for health and productivity too.
- Laughter stimulates the release of endorphins — the hormone responsible for making us happy and relaxed. Endorphins also work as a natural painkiller.1
- People who laugh more often have more effective immune systems.2
- Laughter is associated with lower levels of stress hormones. Mental health is no laughing matter — but laughing certainly is good for your mental health.3
Making the best out of humor
Of course, cracking up during a serious boardroom meeting, a heated dispute or a job interview is definitely more harm than help. But if you use humor wisely, you can enjoy a higher quality of life, more success at work and better interpersonal relationships. Here are some Dos and Don’ts when it comes to humor.
DOs
- Put a positive spin on bad situations. Make the saying “every cloud has a silver lining” a maxim by which to live your life. Remember that suffering builds stronger bonds with your loved ones, teaches you to rely on others and builds character. It’s never pleasant to suffer, but you will emerge as a stronger person from
- Learn to poke fun at yourself. If you take yourself too seriously, others may misunderstand you as petty or self-absorbed. A little self-deprecating humor goes a long way when endearing yourself to others.
- Keep a list of funny stories, jokes or incidents that made you smile and share them with others. Everyone likes to laugh, and telling jokes is a great way to build your confidence in social settings.
DON’Ts
- Have fun at the expense of others. The line between edgy humor and unacceptably cruel ones is often a fine one. If in doubt or around unfamiliar people, always err on the side of caution.
- Use humor to hide your feelings. Some studies have found that perpetual “jokers” often use humor to mask negative emotions such as low self-esteem or anxiety.4 Bottling up your emotions under a façade of good humor doesn’t solve your problems — it only postpones them. Learn to talk honestly and openly about your feelings to your loved ones. You’ll feel better!
A comprehensive study of 4,700 adults in the US found that a person’s happiness was strongly linked to that of the people around them.4 The happier your friends and family, the happier you’ll be, and vice versa — so pass on your good spirits to others!
Sources
- Cortisol and Catecholamine stress hormone decrease is associated with the behavior of perceptual anticipation of mirthful laughter. Berk LS, Tan SA, Berk D. FASEB J. 2008; 22: 946.11
- Emotional style and susceptibility to the common cold. Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Turner RB, Alper CM, Skoner DP. Psychosomatic Med. 2003; 65: 652-657
- [beta]-endorphin and HGH increase are associated with both the anticipation and experience of mirthful laughter. Berk LS, Tan SA. FASEB J. 2006; 20: A382
- Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study. Fowler JH, Christakis NA. BMJ. 2008; 337: a2338