Laughter really is the best medicine

As kids we used to laugh hundreds of times a day but sometimes, faced with the stresses of life, we adults can forget just how fantastic a proper belly laugh can feel. 

When life is throwing challenges our way, however, finding opportunities for humour can help us overcome and endure. 

The ANZACs knew the power of laughter. In fact, they were so well known for it that humour became one of the defining qualities of the ANZAC spirit.

The benefits of a belly laugh

Laughter can improve our emotional health, strengthen our relationships, and reduce our mental load. It can boost our immune system, lift our mood, alleviate pain, and protect us from the damaging effects of stress. Quite simply, it’s like a safety valve for our brain.

Did you know?

• Laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
• It physically relaxes your body, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes.
• It decreases cortisol, the stress hormone.
• It increases your immunity, improving your resistance to disease. 
• A shared laugh can help defuse conflict and put a disagreement into perspective (something to remember when we’re working from home with the kids!)
• It burns calories! (If laughing for 10-15 minutes a day burns calories, how long do I need to laugh to be able to cancel my gym membership?)
• And it might even help you live longer, if that Norwegian study is right. 

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