Everybody knows the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine,” and the only reason it has stuck around for so long is that there is some truth to it. Experts explain that laughter can activate the body’s stress-relief response and help it settle down, while also increasing the release of feel-good endorphins.
So when a meme catches you completely off guard and makes you laugh at your screen, you give your body a chance to relax and feel good too.
We are not meant to spend every waking minute being productive. A 2022 study found that short breaks were associated with more energy and less fatigue, while longer breaks were linked to bigger boosts in performance. So if you take a five-minute meme detour, you are not necessarily procrastinating. You are giving your brain a chance to breathe.
And if your boss happens to catch you scrolling through your phone, you could always say you are taking a scientifically supported performance break. We didn't make the rules; science did
Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson’s research on positive emotions suggests that feelings such as joy can widen the range of thoughts and actions that come to mind. This can make us more open to exploring, playing, and being creative.
So indulging in a little humor may help your brain do more interesting things instead of staying permanently stuck in serious-business mode.
Mental health professionals have explained that finding little moments of joy can support our overall well-being, especially when life feels stressful.
And honestly, plenty in everyday life can weigh you down without you even noticing. That’s why if a ridiculous meme makes you laugh for a few seconds, let yourself enjoy it.
Humor has a way of making frustrating situations feel a little more bearable. You have probably had one of those days when absolutely nothing goes according to plan, and then one funny thing happens that makes you laugh so hard you forget about your problems for a moment.
The problem may still be waiting for you afterward, but at least you can face it with a lighter heart.
We are constantly encouraged to improve ourselves, hit our goals, learn something new, or squeeze more out of every hour. But psychologist Barbara Fredrickson’s work suggests that positive emotions such as joy can improve how we think and encourage exploration and creativity.
Scrolling pictures just because they make you happy is not such a bad use of your time after all.
