Some of the best days that I’ve had in my career are those days where I laughed a lot. No matter how stressful things got, a chuckle was always good medicine to bring me out of the blues. I cannot even begin to count the days where laughter was the best medicine. Not a cliché, it truly was – it’s science. Laughter and smiling have been studied extensively and, sure enough, both have health benefits.
The first benefit to laughter is lowering stress hormones and reducing physical tension throughout your body. It can also help lower your blood pressure which is good for your heart health. Everyone can remember that one instance where tensions were high and someone said the right thing to crack people up. You can feel the stress leave your body almost like magic. Has there been stressful times this year? Of course – multiplied by ten! Find a way to laugh, it’ll make your shoulders drop a little.
The second benefit is that laughter triggers a chemical reaction in your brain, which releases small proteins called neuropeptides. These tiny molecules maintain immune tolerance and may help fight potentially serious illnesses. That’s a great reason to go home and watch a light show like The Kominsky Method and maybe avoid The Handmaid’s Tale on those nights where you need to lighten up a bit! A good laugh makes you stronger!
Thirdly, Laughter and smiling improves your mood by releasing three different hormones: dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. These hormones trick your body into feeling happier, as low levels of these hormones are associated with depression. I know that I have been in heavy moods after dealing with a particularly troubling situation in the classroom. Going to the staffroom and having a laugh with my colleagues picks me up and makes me in a far better mood.
Fourthly, Laughter can actually ease pain. The old adage, it only hurts when i laugh may be truly misspoken. When we laugh or smile, endorphins are released. These endorphins temporarily reduce body aches or minor pains. Laugh therapy is even used in some hospitals to help make patients more positive but also to build up endorphins for stronger pain tolerance!
Finally, Laughter makes you more upbeat. Maintaining upbeat thinking has real health benefits such as increased life span, better cardiovascular health, and lower rates of depression.
So, laugh. Laugh loud, laugh long and laugh often. If there isn’t enough laughter in the classroom, have a joke hour or practice authentic laughing. It’s good for you and it’s good for your students. Make sure you make it one of the cornerstones for your class culture!
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