We all know the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”, and it turns out there is a lot of truth to it! A genuine sense of humour can improve everything from your leadership skills to your overall health and wellbeing.
We can all benefit from a good laugh. Humour is an important coping mechanism that can see us through challenging situations, some of which may be the ailments of aging. While living at Fairview’s private aged care services the top priority doing what makes you happy – so leave time for a laugh with friends.
Improves Your Mood
Starting with the obvious, laughter is incredibly good for your mood. A nice little giggle is enough to lighten your mood and distract your brain from any stress or negative feelings at that moment. Laughing is extremely beneficial for your mental health as being able to laugh immediately makes you feel more positive. The movement and increased oxygen intake that laughing creates a strong body-mind connection which in turn brings on a more positive outlook on day-to-day life. If you can enjoy a good laugh the joys of life will become more obvious, making laughter a valuable way to cope with the world around you. A sense of humour truly is a vital tool for protecting and improving our mental health, especially as we grow older.
Stress Relief
Laughing has been proven to decrease stress hormones, such as cortisol, which means that having a laugh with yourself, your neighbours, or even your cat is enough to bring down your stress levels and help you keep a clear mind. A decent giggle will also assist in relaxing your muscles and relieving tension, further helping reduce stress by putting you in a more relaxed state.
Tension in the mind and body can often become a feedback loop, with each making the other worse, but laughter can help us break the cycle. A strong link has been found between good health, longevity, and smiling. In one study on humour and aging, when asked to describe what constitutes successful aging, elderly subjects mentioned a sense of humour as one of the most important virtues. Research has shown that laughing stimulates several positive physiological changes in an older person’s body. It releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones. Laughing also lowers blood pressure and increases antibodies that boost the immune system. It relaxes muscles and provides pain relief.
Improves Quality of Life
A good sense of humour also improves people’s overall quality of life. Researchers have found that people who score highly in certain types of humour have better self-esteem, more positive affect, greater self-competency, more control over anxiety, and better performance in social interactions. There’s a good reason why TV sitcoms use laugh tracks: laughter is contagious. You’re many times more likely to laugh around other people than when you’re alone. And the more laughter you bring into your own life, the happier you and those around you will feel.
Get Your Laughing Medicine at Fairview
Laughter can always help improve your day. Our Albany retirement villages are a perfect place to meet new friends, crack new jokes, and spend your days laughing and enjoying life. Contact us today to see how Fairview Lifestyle Villages could enrich your life today.
