“Laughter is the best medicine!” That may sound like an old cliche, but the truth is that seeking humor in daily life can help you get through the challenges that may be present in your golden years. When difficult things get you down, healing through humor will get you back on your feet.
Why is Laughter So Good for You?
When you’re having a hard day, something that makes you laugh can help you feel better. Maybe there’s a favorite funny TV show or movie you’ll turn on when you’re feeling blue or a trusted friend who can always help you crack a smile. Why does humor provide healing when things feel difficult, and how can you use it to improve your life?
Laughter Soothes Difficult Emotions
One of the reasons that healing through humor works is that laughter naturally triggers various positive reactions in the body. Laughter is a full-body response that relaxes your muscles and relieves the effects of stress. Laughter also releases endorphins into your bloodstream, boosting your mood and temporarily reducing pain. A good laugh is a smart way to step out of a difficult situation, provide yourself with a break, and re-focus on positively solving existing problems.
Laughter Connects Us to Others
Sometimes, going through hard times can make us feel isolated from others, making it hard to recover. If you’re looking for a way to connect to people, laughter is the perfect tool. Laughter is contagious in social situations, and that’s why people can use it to bond with each other so quickly. Sharing humor with existing friends and loved ones can strengthen your bonds with them and bring joy into your interactions. Even better, sharing a joke with a potential friend can be the perfect icebreaker to set them at ease and start things on a positive note. Humor can even help you diffuse tension between yourself and another person and put you both in a better place to resolve whatever issues occur.
Laughter Is Good for Your Body
It can be difficult to get through challenging times when your physical health isn’t at its best. Laughter has a proven positive effect on common senior ailments like high blood pressure and arthritis. It also boosts your immune system and lowers the levels of stress hormones in your body, which can help your body protect itself from further harm. Believe it or not, laughter even burns calories!
Laughter Can Help You Find the Bright Side
Maintaining a positive mindset is essential to making the most of your golden years, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. If you find yourself dwelling on negativity, humor can help you reframe your situation and look for the funny aspects. Humor creates psychological distance between yourself and the things stressing you out, providing needed relief. It can also help you see different sides of your situation and might even help you develop a creative solution.
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If you’re interested in healing through humor, you can start by looking for laughter in everyday situations. How can you find the humor in your daily routine?
At Springhouse Village, we encourage our residents to explore their interests and offer a wide range of activities and events so that there’s always something interesting happening. We make it easy for our residents to participate in our community. Whether that means encouraging residents to join an exercise class or assisting them in starting a garden club, we strive to help our residents thrive. To learn more about the amenities and services we offer, contact Springhouse Village today by sending us a message online or calling 417-708-3403.