By Stephen Propst
While depression and mania are no laughing matter, laughter has a way of keeping one grounded and being a great coping skill.
Daily Dose of Laughter
How many times does the average adult laugh per day? The answer, according to the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, is 17. What about a kindergartner? That would be over 300. See the problem?
As we grow up, we lose several hundred laughs a day. If we could be more childlike, smiling and laughing more often, we would profoundly impact our mood and overall health.
Incorporating laughter into our daily lives—much like we try to do with exercise—makes sense. If you’re willing to take the stairs instead of the elevator, you should consider taking time out to experience something funny. Laughter isn’t the answer to all of our problems, but there’s a lot more room for it in our lives. As Victor Borge said, “He who laughs, lasts.”
Laughter & Mental Health
In 1964, Norman Cousins, famous writer and editor of the Saturday Review, was given six months to live. He wondered if worry, depression, and anger had contributed to, perhaps even caused, his terminal illness.
In his book Anatomy of an Illness, Cousins describes how he surrounded himself with laughter as a tool for promoting healing. In his words, “Laughter is internal jogging.” He fully recovered and went on to live another 20 healthy, happy years.
Laughter is an excellent prescription for better health. It reduces stress, fights disease, and helps us manage pain. It improves our mental well-being by providing a harmless outlet for pent-up emotions. It serves as an effective mechanism for dealing with bipolar disorder and other difficult, stressful conditions we face.
There isn’t anyone who wouldn’t benefit from giggling more every day. Not feeling very funny? Here are 20 simple hints for increasing the laughter in your life:
#1 Discover what tickles your funny bone.
Each of us has an individual sense of humor, so figure out what makes you laugh. Once you see what gets you going, look for those “tickle triggers” on a daily basis. The Internet can help: search words like “jokes,” “humor,” or “laughter.”
#2 Learn the basics of humor.
Find out if a nearby community college offers laughter classes, which reacquaint participants with their silly side. Many comedy clubs offer stand-up clinics to help humor stand out in you. Or visit the library and check out The Healing Power of Humor, in which author Allen Klein details how humor can help you deal with life-challenging issues and everyday struggles.
#3 Develop a funny file.
Collect funny videos, books, cartoons, and jokes. Whenever you need to laugh, refer to your file. You can put things back in perspective in no time.
#4 Schedule time to laugh.
Write it on your calendar just like you would a doctor’s appointment. You schedule other things that don’t have anywhere close to the same payoff, so carve out time to read a joke out loud or call a fun-loving friend—whatever it takes.
#5 Reconsider your past.
See if you can find something funny from formerly embarrassing moments—even painful ones. Several years ago, my manic behavior landed me in jail, hardly humorous at the time. But now I can look back and at least laugh a little.
#6 Hang out with a funny crowd.
Laughter is infectious. Surround yourself with people who laugh easily and can make you laugh. (Note to self: Don’t always steal the show if you’re known to be funny. Let others in on the act, too. Then, steal their material!)
#7 Laugh at yourself.
According to Meyer Friedman, renowned expert on Type A personalities and heart disease, the people who most effectively protect themselves against the continued progress of coronary artery disease are those who “are willing to see themselves and their affairs as ludicrously unimportant in the planetary scheme of things.” Finding humor, particularly in yourself, helps you lead a healthier life.
#8 Lighten up in difficult situations.
Laughter is called for during tough times. In fact, it’s an essential coping skill. Laughter has always helped me transcend my problems, whether I’m in deep depression or in deep water.
#9 Add laughter to your workout.
Humor makes exercise easier, so take it with you when you work out. I love watching sitcoms while jogging on the treadmill. It’s a fit-and-funny approach that strengthens my heart while lifting my spirits.
#10 De-stress with laughter.
Need an on-the-spot stress buster? Nothing works better than humor. It’s hard to feel uptight after a deep belly laugh.
#11 Be imperfect.
Give yourself permission to do something less-than-perfect every day. Then, laugh at your flaws. For example, I can’t dance. But when I do, I can chuckle at my two left feet.
#12 Balloon your thinking.
Step back from a tough situation and play up its absurdities. Blowing something out of proportion can enable you to see its humor.
#13 Act like a kid again.
Go to the zoo and watch the monkeys, visit an amusement park, or go bowling. There’s no limit to what you can do to make yourself laugh. These activities take you away from all of life’s heaviness. The escape is great for your attitude and your health.
#14 Share the silly.
I have the wonderful opportunity to facilitate support groups for people living with bipolar and other mood disorders. I make it a point to infuse each group I lead with a healthy dose of laughter. That’s often what people need to lighten their load.
#15 Find the funny in the ordinary.
Most anything—a feeding squirrel, a road sign, or a dog pulling its owner—can inspire laughs. Don’t get so caught up with your troubles that you fail to see the humor around you. I find that looking for real-life occurrences of it—the kind you see on America’s Funniest Home Videos—is an excellent way to generate a good giggle.
#16 Add comedy to your commute.
There’s a lot of tension associated with driving, certainly if you live in a big city. Give yourself a break and listen to a funny podcast, CD, or radio show. Do your part to cut down on road rage.
#17 Employ laughter at work.
Laughter aids in problem-solving and stimulates creativity. So, bring a kid’s toy to work with you. An irate customer on the phone doesn’t have to know you’re keeping cool by playing with a Slinky.
#18 Fake it.
Even at difficult times, make yourself laugh. Your brain may be smart, but your body benefits the same whether the laughter is real or faked.
#19 Go for the next best thing.
Let’s face it: sometimes you may be so down in the dumps that you can’t even fake a laugh. No problem. You can do the next best thing—smile. It’s not a cure-all, but such a simple action can make a difference in how you feel. Need help smiling? Look at yourself in the mirror and vow that at least the person looking back at you will smile.
#20 End every day with a laugh.
No matter how difficult it is, laugh before you sleep. Keep track of your progress by making a mental note of how much you laughed that day.
Remember, when you add more laughter to your life, you improve your mood and your overall health. It’s fun. It’s free. It’s a sure-fire prescription for living happily ever laughter!
Used by permission.