Keeping Your Sense of Humor to Help You Through Life

Can you remember the last time you laughed…..I mean really laughed.  How long ago was it? Hopefully your answer is within the last few days or at the very most a couple of weeks!
 
When we go through trying times in our lives it can be difficult to see the funny side of things anymore.  It can be difficult to see the lighter and brighter side of things.
 
Having a sense of humor, and more importantly remembering to use and enjoy it is an important part of living a healthy life.
 
There are many physiological benefits to having a laugh and a joke around.  Having a sense of humor can also help diminishmelt away emotions such as anger and frustration.
 
When we laugh our muscles in our face, chest and abdomen contract and relax.
 
Our heart rate and blood pressure fall to below normal levels after laughing.
 
The production of the stress hormone cortisol is reduced.
 
Our immune system is boosted with the body producing more natural killer cells and T lymphocytes.
 
It stimulates endorphins the body’s natural pain killer.
 
Research has shown that laughter can be used as a coping mechanism to help brighten mood.  Having a sense of humor can help you bring things back into proportion when it’s been a tough day.
 
All too often we take adulthood way too seriously, we forget to give ourselves permission to have fun!
 
Having a laugh and seeing the funny side to things can help us remember that life is to be enjoyed and let us appreciate the gift of life itself.  Let’s face it when we get together with good friends and have a good giggle we feel lighter and brighter.
 
 
If you find that you have forgotten to include humor breaks in your life then it’s time to squeeze them into your routine!  Let’s face it without a sense of humor life would be very dull indeed, imagine that we found nothing funny, nothing at all can you imagine!!
 
So, when times in life get challenging remember, these tips to help you feel the joy of laughter again:


​Think back to something crazy funny that you did or experienced in your childhood, relive that moment. Remember how carefree and light hearted you felt in that moment. Picture that memory vividly.  Stay in that memory for a few minutes then gently come back into the present and feel how your negative emotions has diminished.
 
 
Don’t wait for that funny video to show up in your social media one day. Go look on the internet for the videos you enjoy. Whether its cats doing epic fails that you enjoy or crazy people doing crazy pranks, go find them.  Take a humor break whenever you feel life is getting too heavy, your body and mind will welcome the relief!
 
 
Book yourself in to do something you have always fancied doing for a laugh.  Gather a group of friends and go do it.  Why should kids have all the fun?
 
 
Play with kids.  Act silly with them.  Let them put on your make up or do your hair.  Being around kids can remind us that we need breaks from the to do list and chores.
 
 
We are programmed from children that we need to grow up and be sensible yet we are never taught the importance of having fun and not taking ourselves or life, too seriously.
 
 
Read a comedy book or a funny short story, a little escapism into a book can do the mind, body and soul the power of good.
 
 
Record some episodes of your favorite comedian and take time out to sit down doing nothing else and watch them.
 
Give yourself permission to have a laugh and enjoy the pleasure, as well as enjoying the health benefits of your sense of humor!