By Sam Makhoul
Firstly, I need to clarify what a life-hack is. It is a lifestyle protocol that will boost your energy, help you sleep better, boost your immune system and ultimately make you live longer.
Why is laughter a life-hack that is in my top six? Just like a bodybuilder will focus on compounding exercises such as squats, the six life-hacks, including this one on laughter, all have a compounding effect on your health.
In other words, the impact is far-reaching inside the body. Let me explain why laughter is so important to your health by explaining its impact on your physical, mental and emotional health.
Physically:
- Decreases the stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin
- Lowers blood pressure because it boosts nitric oxide and dilates the inner lining of blood vessels. It even increases HDL.
- Increases the circulation of antibodies that boosts resistance to infections
- 60 seconds of hearty laughter relieves tension in your muscles for up to 45 minutes. That makes it more potent than Valium without the side-effects
- It relieves depression
Thoughts (Mind):
- Laughter (or even ‘humour’ without having to laugh out loud) boosts dopamine to the brain and thus increases the sense of pleasure and reward.
- It changes brain wave activity towards what’s called a “gamma frequency” and this amps up memory and recall.
Ultimately the combination of mind and body benefits lead your mood to greener pastures. You have peace of mind and sleep better at night.
Suddenly everything seems manageable, even pain or loss or failure. You smile more.
You have an air of self-confidence and you start attracting good things and good people into your life, including customers. Most importantly it will improve your relationships with family, friends and your partner.
I coached one client who said that until he learned how to laugh, his kids found him too serious and scary. When he learned to let go and laugh more he was getting more hugs at home.
In fact, research shows that people who are fun, witty and smile often are voted as more attractive. Not bad for a life-hack aye? Which is why it comes in at number four in our series.
How To Increase Laughter In Your Daily Life:
- Surround yourself with people who feel like sunshine – in other words, who make you laugh and are easy going. Physically, we do feel warmer from laughter.
- Listen to or watch, comedy – preferably at a live comedy show. One of my nightly rituals is to listen to comedy every night before I go to sleep.
- Read our article Yes But Are You Having Fun? There are many spiritual teachers who believe that our highest purpose in life is to play, have fun and spread happiness.
Read more from this series:
Life Hack #1: Grounding & Sun Gazing
Life-Hack #2: Eating Properly And Maximising Nutritional Absorption
Life-Hack #3: Oil Pulling & Your Amazing Saliva
