The Gift of Laughter Keeps Giving and Giving
You know that feeling you get when things are going well? The skies seem brighter and the weather warmer. No ill words can harm you. You actually feel lighter as you bounce through the day on the balls of your feet. A smile lingers at the corners of your mouth no matter what you’re working on or dealing with.
The medical term for this condition is “euphoria.” It’s a state of utter contentment, enjoyment and happiness. You can also attain this state of being by laughing. Yes, euphoria is one of the rewards of laughter, and it’s available to anyone, anywhere, at any time, simply by embracing an attitude of mirth.
Mirth Matters
By now, you’re asking yourself why the writers at Ray Access are sharing this common knowledge — and why we’re sharing it now. We actually have two valid and vital points to make:
- At Thanksgiving, we all tend to overeat, but laughter aids your digestion, according to multiple sources. By laughing during and after your huge meal, you help your body digest! So this Thanksgiving, avoid talking about politics around the family table. Tell jokes instead.
- Laughter puts everyone in a better mood. You can employ this strategy at work, too. Lighten up your office environment, and you can expect more dedicated employees and an increase in productivity as your reward. A lighthearted office may also help you attract better candidates.
It is that easy and that difficult — it all depends on you. But if you want to reap the rewards of laughter, the first step is to get people laughing. People like being happy. Comedy movies remain popular. Stand-up comics thrive for a reason, and that reason has nothing to do with heckling. People love to laugh. Sometimes, all they need — all we all need — is a little encouragement.
The Biological Benefits of Laughter
The more you laugh, the healthier you become. In addition to helping you digest a big meal, other benefits from laughing include:
- Laughter, like exercise, is good for your circulatory system, dilating your veins so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard.
- Laughing strengthens your immune system, making it easier to fight off infections, colds, even the flu.
- Laughter fights depression as well as stress. A deep, rich laugh makes you feel good.
According to the U.S. Government, specifically the U.S. Navy: “Laughter research (yes, there is someone out there researching this) has shown that humor and especially laughter can help keep our bodies strong and disease resistant.” There’s a growing body of research to support the claim that laughing helps you live longer.
The Rewards of Laughter in Business
Too many business owners ignore the power of laughter in day-to-day operations. Sure, everyone has to take their role seriously, but allowing people to be comfortably themselves encourages them to do their jobs better. When your employees like coming into work, they may become a company ambassador, singing your praises even when they aren’t on the job. Clients too may relax around you because they appreciate your down-to-earth approach.
Adding a bit of levity in the workplace can be a magic ingredient, so take advantage of it. Other rewards of laughter at work include:
- More laughter leads to fewer sick days.
- Being silly frees up the imagination for successful brainstorming.
- Permission to laugh at work releases your employees from rigid thinking, which opens the door to creative solutions.
- Laughing together builds strong bonds within a team.
Don’t go yucking it up just because you can. Create a plan for introducing humor into your workplace. Create a company culture where “fun” isn’t frowned upon, where everyone — including your clients — feels heard and appreciated. It’s a fact that laughter dispels stress. It’s one of the rewards of laughter.
Ray Access is a content marketing firm that delivers targeted words to empower your business to succeed. Contact us about your specific project to receive a quote. We write website copy, blog posts, e-newsletters, and more. Everything we do is thoroughly researched, professionally edited and guaranteed original.
