Content warning: Jokes, laughter, and positive energy ahead. Proceed with caution. This week we are diving into the topic of laughter and humor since April is National Humor Month! This national celebration is a wonderful reminder of the importance of laughing and enjoying the space and moments you are in. Before we dive in, here are this week’s affirmations: 

What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? . . . . . . So-fish–ticated!

What kind of car does an egg drive? . . . . . . A yolkswagen!

What kind of shoes do ninjas wear? . . . . . . Sneakers!

How does a penguin build its house? . . . . . . Igloos it together.

Okay, okay, I guess we’ll take a break with the jokes. After all, I had a joke about a broken pencil but decided not to tell it because it’s . . . . . . POINT-LESS! Aha!

Humor is defined as “the quality in something that makes it funny; the ability to laugh at things that are funny”. More simply, humor is something that makes you laugh whether it is a joke you hear, a comedic show or movie you see, or an event that happens that makes you laugh (like being tickled). To look for the humor in your day is a positive action you can take that can improve the overall quality of your health. Humor and laughing often has both short-term and long-term health benefits. 

One of the biggest short-term benefits of laughing is stress relief.  When you laugh, your brain releases endorphins in your body, which aid in stress reduction and pain relief. For the moment that you are laughing, your mind is distracted from what may be stressing you. The short-term benefits are ultimately long-term benefits also. The more stress relief you experience, the more likely you are to feel happier and healthier. Feelings of stress can affect your body and your experiences. Specifically, stress can cause headaches, fatigue, and more on the body while also causing problems when it comes to getting enough rest, your appetite and even how you interact socially. With the help of humor and laughter, the chances of these negative health effects can decrease.

Additionally, the more you practice finding humor and laughter in your day, the easier it will become. Above we mentioned that looking for the humor in your day is a positive action. Another positive action is to be able to find the humor in the moments that may seem either embarrassing or scary, another thing that becomes easier with practice. For example, let’s say you are roller blading with a group of friends, and out of nowhere, you trip. Embarrassing, right? You could respond with either of the following responses: 

1. Let the feelings of embarrassment take over and think about it for the rest of the day. You may have thoughts such as “Oh no! All anyone is going to think about is how I fell. I bet they will remember this for a long time.” 
2. Find the humor in the situation. Think to yourself “everyone trips every once in a while, it is normal”. You can stand up, dust yourself off and joke with your group of friends by saying, “I meant to do that, it is a new roller blading trick I am working on!” and laugh and continue enjoying your day.

This is just one example, but the choice is yours to make. We encourage you to pick #2, and to practice finding the humor in your day and being able to laugh at yourself, even in times where something a little embarrassing happens. There is a saying, “laughter is the best medicine”. While there are many helpful types of medicine available, laughter is one that is free and available to you always! 

Here are some ideas of how to bring a little humor into your day:

Here’s how YOU can be a Prevention Partner: 

Visit these resources to learn more about humor and laughter: