Ever thought about the benefits of smiling and laughter and how they can transform your physical, emotional and social wellness? When people speak of a smile, they mean it’s a friendly expression or when they say laughter they mean it is a response to a funny film. However, the reality is much more complicated. Scientists have discovered that smiling and laughing actually go hand-in-hand with specific bodily reactions. They act as free medicines with no side effect whatsoever. And the best part? You can avail of these benefits now, without a prescription.
Let’s look at each of these top benefits. At the end it will be a day to laugh out loud, smile more and have reasons to laugh more every day.
10 Life-Changing Benefits of Smiling & Laughter
The following are the life changing benefits of smiling and laughter which can help to make your life better. These two simple, free acts have a real biological effect on you that reduces stress, increases immunity and reinforces all relationships you value.
Smiling and Laughter Lower Your Stress Hormones
Your body releases cortisol and adrenaline when there’s a day of stress in your life. These hormones help you to fight or to run. However, if this stress remains for an extended period of time, it takes a toll on your health. That’s where smiling and laughter come in as the natural stress relievers.
It has been found that the laughter reduces cortisol up to 39 per cent. Smiling makes a similar effect. Even a fake smile gets your brain to produce feel good chemicals. At first, it is hard for the body to distinguish between a natural smile and a fake smile. So, you can literally fake it until you make it.
Key stress lowering effects include:
- Reduced cortisol and adrenaline within minutes
- Lowered blood pressure during stressful events
- Faster recovery from stressful situations
- Less muscle tension, especially in the neck and shoulders
Next time you feel overwhelmed, try smiling for ten seconds. Then add a small laugh. You will notice your shoulders drop and your breathing slow down.
A Good Laugh Boosts Your Immune System
Your immune system is constantly striving to protect you from colds, flu and infections. However, chronic stress compromises your immunity. Laughter boosts the immune system.
Research on laughter therapy indicates that a good belly laugh stimulates the production of antibodies and activates T cells. They are the body’s first line of defense against viruses. In one study people who watched a funny video increased their level of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that protects the respiratory passages, after 1 hour.
Smiling also decreases markers of inflammation. A reduced inflammation allows your body to use its energy in the service of genuine threats rather than in the fight against internal fires.
An hour isn’t required. Hearty laughing boosts immunity for up to 24 hours. So, watch that silly cat video or call that friend that will make you laugh.
Natural Pain Relief Without a Pill
Chronic pain is a prevalent condition among millions of Americans. Taking opioids or over the counter pills has risks and side effects. However, when you laugh, your body generates its own pain relievers (endorphins). These chemicals act like morphine, except that they do not cause addiction and do not have an overdose potential.
In a famous study at UCLA, they concluded that children who laughed during medical procedures perceived their pain levels much less than those who did not. Laughter yoga for adults found a 30 percent reduction in pain. Up to 2 hours after a good laugh.
Here is how laughter fights pain:
- Releases endorphins that bind to opioid receptors in the brain
- Distracts your mind from focusing on pain signals
- Relaxes muscles, reducing pain from tension
- Lowers anxiety, which amplifies the perception of pain
Smiling alone produces a milder effect but still helps. A simple grin tells your brain that everything is okay. That signal dials down pain pathways over time.
Laughter Protects Your Heart
Heart disease is still the number one killer of Americans. Though diet and exercise are the key factors, your mental well-being is a tremendous part of the equation. Laughing enhances the function of the blood vessels. Makes the arteries expand and contract more readily. That translates to improved blood circulation and reduced risk of heart attacks.
The University of Maryland scientists have investigated the effect of laughter on the endothelium, the lining of your blood vessels. They discovered that laughter expanded blood vessels 30 percent when they watched a funny film. However, exposure to a stressful film induced constriction.
Laughter can also help to lessen inflammation in the arteries. Stress increases the accumulation of plaque. Laughing every day helps to keep your cardiovascular system flexible and clean.
Heart benefits you can expect:
- Improved blood flow for up to 45 minutes after laughing
- Lower resting heart rate over time
- Reduced arterial stiffness
- Lower risk of hypertension
Try this. Set a reminder to watch a comedy clip each evening. Your heart will thank you years from now.
Smiling Makes You More Attractive and Approachable
Ever noticed that people gravitate towards those who smile? It’s a biological reason. Smiling is a positive indication of safety and friendliness. Smiling faces are more attractive, more trustworthy and more competent in social settings.
In one study, they were able to remember a smiling face than a neutral or angry one. In another study, the researchers found that the waiters who smiled were given much larger tips. A sincere smile receives more matches and messages online even on online dating profiles.
People see you differently when you smile, but you see yourself differently when you smile. You exude confidence when you smile. This confidence comes across in conversations making you more attractive to others.
Social advantages of a smiling face:
- People perceive you as warmer and more likable
- You appear more competent at work
- Strangers feel safer approaching you
- You get better customer service and cooperation
So, if you have a job interview or a first date, practice your smile beforehand. It is the cheapest makeover you will ever get.
Laughter Elevates Mood and Fights Depression
Depression sucks the life out of you and everything looks grey. Laugher cannot take the place of skilled treatment. However, it can be a strong complement to it. Laughing increases serotonin and dopamine levels. These are the same brain chemicals that the antidepressant medications work on.
Some studies show that a laughter therapy session can diminish 40 per cent of among the indications of clinical depression. Repeated laughter makes for long-term resilience, though the effect might only last a few hours. Your brain is rewired to enjoy happiness more easily.
Even smiling helps. Smile more, feel less depressed, even when you’re not feeling happy. The facial feedback hypothesis is that facial expressions affect your brain. Your brain reads a smile as “Hey, things are good”. Your brain thinks it is true.
Smile for 30 seconds, now! Notice the little change in your mood. This is the very essence of biology working.
Smiling Strengthens Your Relationships
Positive emotions are the foundation of relationships. Couples with a sense of humor remain united. This is no cliché. Studies of married couples have revealed that laughter is a good foretaste of marital happiness and durability. Making a joke of disagreements reduces defensiveness and brings couples closer together.
Smiling also fosters trust. Smile at your partner, child or co-worker, and you’ll release the bonding hormone, oxytocin. Oxytocin creates a sense of feeling safe and connected. With repeated smiling and laughter, a reservoir of good feelings develops, which protects against conflicts.
Ways laughter improves relationships:
- Reduces harsh criticism during arguments
- Increases physical affection and touch
- Creates inside jokes that strengthen unique bonds
- Helps families cope with difficult situations
Looking to make your marriage better? Once a week watch a comedy together. Share funny memes. Tell silly jokes. They are small positive things that create a wall of positivity that can’t be broken down with an argument.
Laughter Improves Productivity at Work
Sitting in a gray cubicle all day kills motivation. However, in workplaces that foster a sense of humor, productivity, creativity, and employee retention rates are improved. Google and Zappos are well known for having fun in their culture. It’s not a coincidence.
Burnout rates are reduced by laughter. Laughter at work is your way of releasing stress from difficult customers and tight deadlines. You’re more flexible in your thinking, too. Research indicates that viewers of a funny video can come up with solutions to creative problems more quickly. Laughter expands your capacity to think.
Productivity benefits for professionals:
- Faster problem solving on creative tasks
- Better memory retention after positive breaks
- Less sick time due to stronger immunity
- Higher job satisfaction and lower turnover
Managers need to set an example. Tell a joke at a meeting. Have fun when you make a mistake. You will develop a team that works harder because they really like to be there.
Smiling and Laughter Add Years to Your Life
Is there something simple that can extend your life like a grin? Evidence says yes. Wayne State University researchers studied old photos of baseball players in a longitudinal study. The players that smiled widely in their pictures lived an average of seven years longer than players that did not smile.
A second study tracked more than 50,000 nurses. The odds of early death from heart disease, cancer and infections were significantly lower for those who were more optimistic and happier about things.
Laughter helps to ease inflammation, cleanse the heart, decrease stress, and strengthen immunity. All of these factors have an impact on a longer, healthier life. Don’t have to be a stand-up comedian. Look for little things to laugh at each hour!
Longevity factors linked to laughter:
- Lower risk of cardiovascular events
- Reduced chronic inflammation
- Better sleep quality, which repairs cells
- Stronger social networks, a known predictor of longevity
Think of smiling as a vitamin you take throughout the day. Each one adds a few minutes to your lifespan. Over a lifetime, that adds up to years.
Laughter Creates a Ripple Effect of Positivity
This is a rare behind-the-scenes look that isn’t captured in most articles. Laughter is contagious. If you laugh, others laugh. This trickles over to the next one and the next one. A real belly-laugh can change the atmosphere of an entire room, office or family meal.
That ripple effect is returned to you. People treat you better when you make them smile. They provide access to you. They have a way of forgetting your wrongs. As you create a community, you create a community of people that are linked to joy, you become joy with them. As you build a community, you become a community of people who are joy with you. Social capital reaps returns in all aspects of life.
Ways to start your own ripple effect:
- Laugh at yourself when you make a mistake
- Share a funny story, not just complaints
- Smile at strangers you pass on the street
- Start meetings with a lighthearted check in
You can make someone’s whole day better just with a good laugh. That person could come home and be more loving towards their family. There is more laughter in the family. The cycle continues.
How to Bring More Smiling and Laughter into Your Day
Understanding the value of smiling and laughter is one thing and using them is another. It’s one thing to know the benefits of smiling and laughing, but another to do it. Taking action to them is a different matter. Here are some practical, real-world strategies you can use now.
- Morning routine.Smile at yourself in the mirror while you brush your teeth. It sets a positive tone.
- Commute time.Listen to a comedy podcast instead of news or music. Laugh before you even reach your desk.
- Work breaks.Keep a folder of funny memes or short clips. Watch one during lunch.
- Family time.Play a silly game like charades or watch a classic comedy movie together. No phones allowed.
- Evening wind down.Write down one funny thing that happened today. Share it with your partner or roommate.
There’s no need to be a perpetual smiley face. Well, that would be tiring. Simply try to get 5 authentic laughs and 20 smiles per day. That small move will unleash all of the following advantages.
Final Thoughts
Smiling and laughter isn’t simply a response to happiness. They are instruments that make happy. Each time you smile, you reduce your stress, safeguard your heart, and build relationships. Each time you laugh, you strengthen your immune system, decrease pain and increase your lifespan.
With a smile and laughter, the best things in life are indeed free. So go ahead. Be nice to the barista. Giggle at the goofy video. Tell a work colleague a joke. You will reap the benefits from your body, your mind and those around you.
