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Have a Good Laugh!
In today's world, a good belly laugh may be the best relief from daily stress at work and home. Terms such as "burnout" and "stress-related-illness" are common in the workplace, and many organizations are looking at ways to keep the workforce happy, healthy and productive.
Scientific data proves laughter to be an integral part of wellness. Dr. William Fry of Stanford University has demonstrated that laughing 200 times burns off the same amount of calories as 10 minutes on a rowing machine.
Laughter also oxygenates your blood (and thus increases your energy level), relaxes your muscles, and works out all major internal systems like the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
So what does this mean? Simply, that laughter pumps more oxygen to your muscles and brain. Therefore your brain is able to focus more effectively. A good laugh may help to unleash those creative juices when your are stuck or pump up your energy level following a big lunch.
Other benefits of laughter include:
• Improved immune system, which helps to protect the body against the effects of stress and disease.
• A decrease in stress hormones that can damage the body's systems.
• An increase in endorphins, the "feel good" hormones. Endorphins are the body's natural opium-like chemicals. That is why laughter boosts your spirits. It makes you feel the opposite of the way stress makes you feel.
• Blood pressure drops to a lower healthier level.
How to include laughter into a busy day:
• Keep a cartoon calendar and enjoy the cartoon of the day. Share with others at work.
• Practice finding something funny in work situations. Buy index cards and write these ideas down.
• Try to create a situation that is funny each day at work. Beware of hostile practical jokes, or those that may offend certain individuals.
• Contribute to a work environment in which humor is shared and in which creating laughter is valued.
• Learn how to laugh at your own mistakes.
• When you have a few moments alone, begin laughing. Start small and then build to louder guffaw. Notice the difference in your mood and how much more relaxed you feel.
• Learn how to laugh rather than despair at situations that you have no control over.
• Listen to children as they snicker and giggle. Learn to see the humor in "silly" situations.
• Keep a vivid imagination alive by expressing those often "goofy" thoughts or ideas.
Humor in the workplace does not have to involve knee-slapping laughter. The importance is the act that involves some element of surprise and/or exaggeration that makes people feel good. This of course can be good, clean jokes but there are other methods. Send a note to a co-worker complimenting them on a job well done, leave a chocolate on a co-worker's desk, send flowers to someone out of the blue, these evoke pleasant feelings.
Using props can also bring out the "clown" in all of us, such as Groucho Marx glasses, funny hats, bright colored clothing, big red rubber nose. This April Fool's a co-worker came to work with two mixed matched shoes on and made everyone laugh. What a simple thing to bring us all out of our grown-up selves and take time to laugh and play.
Laughing is something that people can do sitting down, costs no money and is a healthy workout for the mind and body.
So here's a tip for the next time you feel stressed and need a wellness break. Think of some event, story, joke or situation that made you smile or laugh. Take a deep breath, smile, exhale and visualize the time while you smile. You may even break out into spontaneous laughter that will help lighten up that moment in time.
Including laughter into your daily agenda can improve your quality of life and protect you against stress. Our "inner clown" can now emerge as our lifeline in these times of change and uncertainty. Giving that clown free reign not only results in a healthier workplace, but increases morale and team spirit.
Sources: Life Hub, Laughter is Good for You; David Granirer MA, North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic, email: www.psychocomic.com
“HEALTHY YOU” is a weekly column prepared by health care providers and staff at North Country Hospital and Health System. Please call Winnie Jones, RN, Employee Health Nurse, 334-3263, for information or to suggest a topic for this column. |
