The addiction we must encourage…

No – I am not talking about food, water or air (but those are quite important).

I am talking about laughter. 😂

Laughter is essential to psychophysiological development throughout our lives. It enables us to create and maintain meaningful relationships, it improves our physical health and increases lifespan (gen up).

When we laugh, every organ in our bodies is affected as the body increases the amount of oxygen coursing through the system. This enhances circulation and leads to internal healing.

The more regularly we laugh, the more calories we burn (yup laughter could be the new diet trend of 2024) 🏃‍♂️

Laughter releases endorphins – the body’s pain medicine which helps us to relax, concurrently improving our immune system and protecting us from illnesses. 💊

Laughter also helps those arounds us, because when we see someone else laughing our autonomic nervous system is triggered leading to the phrase ‘laughter is contagious’.

Research by Neurologist Henri Rubenstein found that “one minute of solid laughter provides up to forty-five minutes of subsequent relaxation”.

‘But laughter is not appropriate in professional settings’ you may say;

Ok – I disagree, but here is another reason for a quick joke with your colleagues ☕️:

Laughter is often more about the people you are with, than it is about yourself. It helps us to build and maintain influence and relationships.

15% of laughter is about the context, meaning that 85% of laughter is about peer interaction and social proof.

The more people present, the more the laughter and in extreme, the creation of a ‘giggle-loop’; contagious laughter affecting everyone in proximity.

The very act of smiling is coded into our subconscious as a supplication and appeasement sign to reduce tension and conflict.

Humour is used extensively in advertising signposting authenticity and good intentions, so why not allow for a moment or two of indulgence, break out a smile, tell a joke or a funny story.

It will be helping those around you as much as it helps you…

Ps: something to consider - the average adult laughs 15x a day. The average preschooler laughs 400x a day. Who do you think is happier…..? 👦