Have you ever had a moment where you’ve said, “I am laughing so much it hurts”? If you have, maybe you should rephrase it to, “I am laughing so much it helps”. Studies show that laughter can be a natural, holistic way to reduce stress levels, yet, as we grow older, research also shows that we are laughing less.
It might sound silly to use laughter as a stress management technique. When we think of stress management, we tend to think of things like taking vacation, sleeping more, exercising, delegating tasks to lessen workloads, not laughter. Think of the last time you laughed; in that moment, were you feeling tense, worried about your to-do list, down in mood? Or were you feeling carefree, relaxed, and happy? Chances are you were thinking about whatever was funny at the time, and your body was relaxed. Improved mood and relaxed muscles are some of the benefits you receive from laughing. Below, we outline several of the other benefits surrounding laughter when it comes to managing stress and provide suggestions for adding more laughter into your life.