The screenshots featured on this list might seem a bit strange. They’re random, quirky, and sometimes even confusing. But the point of them is to make you laugh, so if they achieve that, who cares that they don’t make sense? The unfortunate reality is that most of us probably aren’t getting enough humor into our everyday lives, so we’ve compiled this list to help you get your daily dose today!
We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine, but HelpGuide says there’s scientific evidence to back that up. Apparently, laughter can benefit your entire body, as it’s a wonderful way to relieve stress and tension. At the same time, laughter boosts your immune system, so it might help prevent or fight off infections.
There’s nothing better than the feeling after enjoying a hearty laugh, and that’s because the action releases endorphins. These chemicals simply make us feel amazing. And they can simultaneously improve a person’s sense of well-being and sometimes even relieve pain.
Many people are worried about heart health, as cardiovascular disease takes more lives worldwide than any other illness. But along with eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, including plenty of laughter in your daily routine can go a long way in combatting heart disease. Chuckling improves the function of blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and increases blood flow. So your doctor should be prescribing you comedy shows!
In the same vein, if you’re trying to lose weight, you might want to add giggling to your gym routine. Obviously, laughing isn’t going to be enough to shed pounds without exercise and a balanced diet, but HelpGuide notes that it does burn calories. Apparently, laughing for 10 to 15 minutes each day can burn about 40 calories. That adds up to 280 calories in a week and 1240 calories in a month. Over time, you might actually notice the difference!
Something else that laughter is amazing for is reducing anger. There’s plenty to be frustrated about in this day and age, pandas. We get it. But holding onto anger can take a huge toll on your mental and physical health, so you might want to utilize humor to lighten that load. Cracking a joke is a wonderful way to ease tension during an argument or to remind yourself (and others) not to take life too seriously. Not every situation calls for humor, of course, but there are plenty of times when it will be welcome.
Given how much of life takes place online these days, it’s incredibly easy to feel isolated. In fact, more than 60% of Americans admit to feeling lonely. But if you want to strengthen your relationships and ensure that your friends want to spend time around you, laughter is the best way to bond. Go see a funny movie with your friends, send them hilarious memes, and always show up to your hangouts with some jokes ready to go. The more you make people laugh, the more they’ll want to spend time with you. Laughter is contagious!
If you’re wondering how to get more laughter into your life, Gill Harrop, PhD, has some advice. First, she notes that you have to actively seek it out. Don’t expect humor to magically find you. Put in the effort, and you’ll reap the rewards! You also have to look for laughter in everyday situations. I guarantee that your boring commute to the office includes something humorous; you just have to be on the lookout for it. And once you get used to keeping your eyes open to situations like that, it’ll become easier to spot more and more.
