Laugh More and Take Your Laughter to Work
Laughing matters. We all know intuitively that laughter is good for us. When we laugh we feel better. But so what – you knew that already! But knowing it and doing it are not the same thing. As children we laugh freely and fully, but as we grow up we learn rules that actually stop us from using laughter to help our well being.
Psychologists tell us that we lose 385 laughs between childhood and adulthood – as we stop playing and start the serious business of life. Where do they go? And more importantly, how do we get them back?
Much research has taken place into laughter and why it matters and many people have dedicated their careers to helping people rediscover that laughter. At Pearlcatchers, we just want everyone to try to laugh more and to take your laughter to work
Why? Well just look at the following facts:
L aughter releases endorphins, giving us the ‘feel good factor’
A cts as aerobic exercise and is like ‘internal jogging’
U nleashes inhibitions, breaks down barriers
G reat team building tool, encouraging better communication
H elps boost our immune system which helps us resist disease
T ones muscles, improves respiration and circulation
E ncourages positive thinking and creativity
R elaxes the whole body and reduces stress and tension
In addition to the above, laughter is also a great way to release our hidden creativity and motivation and therefore lead to improved performance and business results
Below, one of our consultants, Carol Thompson has suggested the following top 10 tips as ways to help bring more laughter back into your life as individuals.
But we also want businesses to learn that laughing matters. Pearlcatchers wants Britain to learn how laughter can be good for people physically and emotionally and get them to explore how to use laughter to release hidden creativity and motivation that will therefore lead to improved performance and business results. Work can be fun and when people enjoy themselves, they are more motivated and ultimately more productive.
Top tips for Bringing More Laughter back into Your Life
1. Own your laughter – don’t wait for someone or something to ‘make’ you laugh. Laugh just because it feels good
2. Lower your threshold for laughing, give yourself permission to laugh at anything you need to especially on those ‘NO SENSE OF HUMOUR DAYS'!
3. Wake up in the morning with the intention to laugh long & often.
4. Look for humour around you - on signs, in peoples’ behaviour, on TV, in newspapers, funny things that people say. Keep a journal that you can look back on.
5. Laugh with other people when they laugh ( it doesn’t matter if you don’t get the joke – laugh because it feels good)
6. Exercise your smile muscles while you think happy thoughts. A smile brings you closer to laughing.
7. Seek out entertainment which makes you laugh.
8. Buy and listen daily to a tape of laughter, a laughter box or a laughing toy.
9. Wear silly hats or socks that make you laugh.
10. Be creative with fun and make sure you have fun.
(Taken from various sources including Carol Thompson, Carrie Graham and Julie Whitehead of The Laughter Network)
If you need an immediate laugh, have a look at our ‘Laughing Matters’ page for a range of cartoons, anecdotes and video clips that we have found helpful in banishing the blues.
If you need to bring some laughter into your organisation, take a look at our Comedy Capers for teambuilding days or Serious Games to help your strategic planning more creative and motivational!
If you are interested in organising a Laughter Workshop, please contact us for further information.