What makes us feel better after a long, boring 9-5? Adults know it best – it’s humor! Even the great Mark Twain would agree when he said that humor is a great thing that could save humanity. Perhaps even you have considered your partner’s sense of humor as their greatest asset. For some, humor evokes more than mere laughter—it is a stress reliever.
Don’t ask what humor is. The best way to kill it is to explain it. If you are looking for a book that will bring some spirit to your otherwise lame, unamusing day, “Humor All The Way” by Renee Servello is a must-read book! It is more than just a book but a prescription for free smiles. Who likes receiving medications of any kind? No one. Hence, this blog post won’t dwell on explaining a joke or humor. Instead, this will tell you why it’s the cheapest RX humans can find.
Below are some reasons you should add humor to your daily healthy habit.
Humor as a Physical Drug
Various health research has proven that laughing has several physical benefits. A study published at the National Library of Medicine stated that joyous laughter could affect heart health. This study supports humor as a free shield for your heart against cardiovascular problems. Who knows? Jokes might mend broken hearts too.
In addition, humor-induced laughter can help you shed those extra pounds. Although it can’t give you the perfect beach body you’ve always wanted, laughter can help reduce your body mass index (BMI). This claim is based on a randomized study among Japanese participants with metabolic syndrome risk factors. Want to lose weight soon? Add some jokes to achieve your body goals.
Humor as an Emotional Drug
Everybody could use a warm hug sometimes, but if you can’t find a pair of loving arms to give it to you, then perhaps a joke or two will do. Laughing strengthens the immune system. Not only does it make you feel good, but it will also lower your stress hormones. That would fortify your immune system, making you more disease-resistant.
When you laugh, you are also making your endorphins happy. Endorphins are not called “the happy hormones” for no reason. These hormones play a vital role in relieving pain and improving your overall well-being, so the next time you feel under the weather, have some good old jokes.
Humor as a Psychosocial Drug
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression became prevalent, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the ways people cope with such problems is by watching nostalgic comedy films. According to a news article by Forbes, Nielsen has reported a drastic rise in comedy programming across the United States. The report would tell us that laughter is crucial in making people feel at ease during trying times. Although humorous sources won’t entirely ease our psychological struggles, they help lighten our moods.
No man is an island, and no one would want to live on an island without smiles and laughter. Researchers from the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences concluded that laughter shared within a group of people could strengthen their bond. It also fosters a more profound understanding, so the next time your group gets quiet or stressed, don’t forget to share some jokes. Life is indeed not a one-person comedy show.
Laugh More, Live Long
Science has come a long way when figuring out how to deal with medical problems. Therapies, medications, self-help books—you name it, many ways to help us feel good seem endless. Indeed, this era could give us instant medications to cure or lessen our woes. However, some of these treatments don’t come for free. What’s priceless is our gift of humor. One Norwegian study found that those with a strong sense of humor live longer than those who don’t laugh. Sure, immortality does not exist, but if you sprinkle some humor into your life, you will surely enjoy life regardless of its length.
Improve your physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being as you seek what could bring joy to your life, whether it is your favorite comics or Renee Servello’s “Humor All The Way.” The book will surely give you a good laugh or take you back to your comedy roots, even if you have not discovered them yet.
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References:
Divergent effects of laughter and mental stress on arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19251872/
Effects of a laughter program on body weight and mental health among Japanese people with metabolic syndrome risk factors: a randomized controlled trial
https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-022-03038-y
Why Laughter May Be the Best Pain Medicine
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-laughter-may-be-the-best-pain-medicine/
Scientists Hint at Why Laughter Feels So Good
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