How to Laugh

You've probably heard that laughter is the best medicine, but did you know that it actually can have physical health benefits? Laughing helps relieve stress and tension, boosts your oxygen intake, and can actually help improve your immune system.[1] Even without the physical benefits, though, laughter is just plain good for your mood, so check out these tips to get laughing today!

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Smile more.[2]Download Article

If you're having a hard time laughing, try starting with a smile.

Try not to be self-conscious about your laugh, even if it's especially unique. As long as you're laughing for the right reasons, there's no reason to hold back when you get the giggles. In fact, if your laugh really stands out, it might

t pops up out from under the blanket and says, “I knew we wouldn’t get far in this stolen car.”

Just then a knock comes from the trunk and a voice calls out, “Are we over the border yet?”

17. Start a Scrapbook of Funny Things Your Family Members Say. Family members are a great source for funny comebacks and sayings. When my nephew, Diego, was about four or five years old, he put on an Indian Jones hat and pìcked up a lightsaber. He then announced that he was, “Indiana Jedi”.  🙂

Start a scrapbook to collect the funny things your family does and the things they say. This will make you more aware of their funny moments, which will make you appreciate them more.

18. Put Laughter Quotes Up On a Bulletin Board. Put up a bulletin board where you’ll be sure to see it often, and fill it with laughter quotes. Here are some to get you started:

“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” — Mark Twain

If you're having a hard time laughing, try starting with a smile. Even a fake smile can trick your body into feeling happier, which can make it easier to slip into laughter. Train yourself to smile as you're working, jogging, and even while y that he has just won $5,000 in a safety competition, all because he is wearing his seat belt.

“What are you going to do with the prize money?” the officer asks.

The man responds, “I guess I’ll go to driving school and get my license.”

His wife says, “Officer, don’t listen to him. He’s a smart aleck when he’s drunk.”The guy in the back seaTV so that you have more time to read—or work on projects that are important to you—I’m not one of those people who argue that you shouldn’t watch any TV. Just make sure that you’re watching shows that you really enjoy.

Specifically, limit your TV viewingour laugh, even if it's especially unique.



“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” – e. e. cummings

“If laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely dissolve your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them.” – Dr. Madan Kataria

laugh more

19. Do More of What Makes You Laugh. When was the last time you had a really good laugh? What were you Doing? Do more of that.

20. Follow Funny People on Twitter. Follow two or three funny accounts on Twitter so you get a few laughs as you see the tweets go by on your stream. One funny account I follow is @itsWillyFerrell. Here’s a tweet from him I found hilarious:

vfunny tweet

21. Start a Joke Jar. Get your whole family to laugh more by starting a joke jar. Do the following:

Get a nice jar and some scraps of papers.

Find some funny jokes and write them down on the scraps of paper. Ask your family members to do the same.

Put the scraps of paper with the jokes written o

to shows that make you think, and shows that make you laugh. Here are two shows that make me laugh:

The Big Bang Theory

Parks and Recreation

8. Have More Fun on Date Night. Keep your relationship strong by laughing more with your partner. On date night, go to a comedy club. If you want to stay in, make some popcorn and watch a funny movie. Here are two funny movies I would definitely recommend:

Burn After Reading, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and John Malkovich.

The Other Woman, starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton.

9. Read a Funny Book. I often recommend that you read the classics, but you should also read books just because they’re funny. A genuinely funny book is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Here are two funny books you can get started with:

Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, which is a war comedy.

Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a science fiction comedy.

10. Find a Little Kid You Can Hang Out With. Little kids haven’t forgotten how to laugh yet. They’ll laugh at just about anything, and there are few things more infectious than a little kid’s laugh.

11. Get a Pet. More specifically, get a dog. Dogs make us laugh because. . . well, just look:

happy dog

12. Play Fun Games With Friends. Playing competitive party-style games with a group of friends you enjoy hanging out with will have you laughing in no time. There are lots of games you can choose from, including the following:

Rollick! The Hysterical Team Charades Party Game

Apples to Apples

Just set up the game, put out some guacamole and chips, and get ready to laugh ’till it hurts.

13. Learn to Laugh at Yourself. Most of us take ourselves too seriously, which limits our ability to find the humor in difficult situations. In addition, it can make us uptight and overly sensitive to what other people may be thinking of us.

Learning to laugh at yourself takes some of the pressure off, and it will allow you to be more authentic and vulnerable (both of which are desirable character traits). Here are two ways learn how to laugh at yourself:Give yourself permission to be silly. At the right moment, being silly is a plus.

you're spending time around, try changing the tone of the conversation. If someone is talking about things they don't like, talk about things you do like, instead, for example.

Spending time with kids or pets can be a great way to find yourself spontaneously giggling.

You don't necessarily have to dump your unfunny friends. Remember, there's a time and place for everything, so it's okay if your friends aren't constantly laughing.

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Try to make other people laugh.[10]Download Article

Spending time around people whor home.

Smile every time you open the refrigerator.

4. Read the Funnies. If you’re one of those people who still reads the newspaper offline—like me—don’t skip the funnies. After reading about everything that’s going wrong in the world, a little levity will do you good.

5. Befriend a Funny Person. Some people are just naturally funny. They may have a way with words, or they may have a wacky way of looking at the world. These people are gems. If you find one, befriend them immediately.

6. Have a Favorite Comedian. There are lots of great comedians out there, but almost everyone knows of at least one comedian who really appeals to their own particular sense of humor. Choose your favorite comedian and look for some of t

just have to 'fake it,' and that's okay. If you aren't used to laughing, it might feel unnatural. Just stay with it and keep trying. The other person probably won't know you are faking.

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Question

How do I get a nice laugh?

Klare Heston, LCSW

Even a fake laugh can sometimes encourage real giggles. When you're alone at your house, or when you're driving to work, try laughing a few times as realistically as you can. Even if you don't find something particularly funny to laugh at, just making yourself laugh can get you started on a healthy giggling fit.

Get started with 3 short "ha" sounds, and do several sets of this forced laugh. You'll be surprised at how quickly forced laughs can turn into a legitimate case of the giggles.

Try thinking of something you found funny in the past while you're doing this.

You can also push out a chuckle when someone else makes a joke, even if you don't think it's funny. They might be able to tell that it isn't a real laugh, but that in itself might get the both of you laughing for real!

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Put on some funny videos for a quick laugh.[5]Download Article

If you're feeling down, search "funny videos" in your web browser.



Every once in awhile, take a break from your usual habits and watch something that will crack you up. Even if your taste runs more to drama or horror, if you're lucky, you'll find comedy gold—something that will hit your funny bone every timeKlare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

You can practice in front of a mirror or with close friends or family. At first, it may feel strange if you are not used to smiling and laughing. Just stay with it.

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Question

How do I laugh at anything?

Klare Heston, LCSW

Klare Heston, LCSWhave been conducted that show the positive effects thook. Make a nice smile your go-to face.

As you're walking to work or to the bus, make a point of smiling at each stranger you pass on your way. It's a good way to practice and get ready for laughing, and it's also polite.

If you're having trouble even smiling, try making a list of things that you're grateful for. That can make it easier to see more of the positive things around you.[3]

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Force a few chuckles.[4]

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Even a fake laugh can sometimes encourage real giggles.

I hope this post made you laugh! After all, laughter is the best medicine. Live your best life by laughing more. Get started with the 22 tips above.

 

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Don't let bad news weigh you down, even if it's hard sometimes.

Look for the funny side of things. When you’re upset over something, ask yourself: “How is this situation funny”? Humor is a great way to deal with adversity and can even turn a negative into a positive.

14. Take Up Something New. When you try something new–whether it’s to draw, perform a karate kick, or learn to roller blade— your initial attempts will likely be clumsy and even ridiculous. That is, funny.And, since in the point above you learned how to laugh at yourself, taking up something new is very likely to result in lots of laughs.spreading the feeling of laughter throughout your body.

Conclusionat bedtime? A: One with a “hoppy” ending.

22. Try Laughter Meditation. As I wrote in my post on how to meditate, there are many different meditation practices you can try. One of these is laughter meditation. Do the following:

Find a comfortable place to sit.

Bring your attention to your

itcom. Although I advocate watching less

make the people around you laugh even more.

Remember, the harder you laugh, the more likely it is that other people will join in with you!

If you're uptight about laughing and constantly worried what people will think of you, it's hard to really let go and have fun. If you're hanging out with the kind of people who make fun of someone for laughing, find new friends.

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Surround yourself with people who make you laugh.[9]Download Article

It's harder to laugh if you're surrounded by people who bring you down.



Even if it seems funny at the time, try to avoid humor that makes someone else the butt of the joke—it is really cruel to the other person.

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Learn to love the sound of your laugh.[8]Download Article

Try not to be self-conscious about 

make you laugh is great, but sometimes, you have to be the one who brings that energy.

Spending time around people who make you laugh is great, but sometimes, you have to be the one who brings that energy. Try inviting your family and friends to go with you to a comedy show, or pile up on the

erest Board of Funny Stuff You Find Online. Before the site Squidoo went belly up, I had a Squidoo lens that I used to collect the funny stuff that I found online. This included YouTube videos, images, jokes, quotes, and so on.

Although Squidoo no longer exists, you can do something similar with Pinterest. Start a Pinterest board and every time you find something funny as you browse the web, pin it to your board.

Here’s one of the jokes that I had added to my Squidoo lens:

A police officer pulls over a driver and informs him

every time you’re about to enter you

yn them in the jar.

At dinner time have someone reach into the jar, take out a joke, and read it out loud.

Here are some family-friendly jokes to get you started (they’re Easter oriented since it’s almost Easter):

Q: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? A: Bugs Bunny!

It will be easier to laugh spontaneously if you intentionally make yourself laugh at least once every day. Practice sets of laughing on your way to work, after you get home, or anytime you want to unwind a bit.

Try to keep funny material on hand for when you have a bad day. For instance, you might bookmark your favorite funny YouTube videos, or you might buy a book from your favorite comedian and keep it until a day you really need a pick-me-up.[14]

Treating laughter as an exercise will keep your funny muscles strong. Practice laughing with a wide grin and a deep belly chuckle. You'll feel better afterward.

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Try laughter yoga.[15]

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If you find it hard to laugh when you're all alone, check out whether there are any "laughter yoga" groups in your area.

If you find it hard to laugh when e same number of calories as 6 to 10 minutes on a treadmill.

Q: Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke? A: It might crack up!

Q: What kind of book does a ra

couch together and watch a funny movie. Once they get the giggles, you're sure to find yourself laughing, too!

You might also plan activities that will get everyone laughing, like playing a funny board game or doing a fun activity like playing mini golf or going bowling.

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Learn to laugh at your mistakes.[11]

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Learning to laugh...

It's harder to laugh if you're surrounded by people who bring you down. As much as possible, try to spend time around people who make you feel good about yourself, and who share the same sense of humor as you.

If you can't change who

Don't let bad news weigh you down, even if it's hard sometimes. It's a lot harder to laugh if you're constantly worried about heavy stuff. Instead, try to spend most of your time intentionally focusing on things that are positive or that make you feel good.

breath and release all tension from your body.

Bring up an image of something you find really funny. Once you have the feeling of laughter, spread it throughout your body, from the top of your head, to the tip of your toes.

Bring up another image that makes you laugh. Continue

going to more live shows if you like them. As a bonus, when you find someone who shares your comedic tastes, you'll automatically have something to bond over!

Don't be afraid to branch out! You might love written comedy, or you might prefer dark humor, improv, or standup specials.

You might also find that you laugh the hardest when you're watching classic comedians like Carol Burnett, Gene Wilder, or the Marx brothers.

Learning to laugh at yourself is one of the biggest differences between happy people and depressed people. If you can turn awkward moments, mistakes, and shortcomings into opportunities for a good laugh, those things will hold less sway over you.

Everyone mucks up at some point, and it doesn't have to define you as a person. Laughing at yourself helps show yourself and the people around you that it's no big deal.

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Try not to dwell on negative subjects.[12]

How to Laugh More – 22 Ways to Bring More Laughter into Your Life

how to laugh more

A simple way to have a happier, healthier life is to laugh more.Laughter is a physiological response that involves rhythmic and involuntary action, and denotes merriment, happiness, or joy.  Over the past several years countless studies

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

In the beginning, you might

ng at old Saturday morning cartoons like Tom & Jerry or Looney Tunes.

5

Embrace what you find uniquely funny.[7]Download Article

Pay attention to the things that really hit your funny bone.



For instance, try watching a new movie from a funny actor you like, or check out an episode of a sitcom you haven't seen before.

Recreate your childhood by laughiheir comedy routines on YouTube.

If you’re wondering who my favorite comedian is, it’s George Carlin (1937 – 2008). I love his dry, sarcastic humor. Here are three of his most memorable lines:“In most polls there are always about 5 percent of the people who ‘don’t know.’ What isn’t generally understood is that it’s the same people in every poll.”

“Why is the

Laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing process.

Laughter creates and strengthens human connections.

It feels good to laugh.

Are you ready to laugh more? Below you’ll find 22 ways to bring more laughter into your life.

22 Ways to Laugh More

1. Set the Intent to Laugh More. Make a resolution, or set the intent, of laughing heartily as often as you can. Setting a goal to laugh more is as important as setting the goals to get more exercise, eat healthier, and drink more water.

Tell yourself: “I resolve to laugh more”.

2. Include Laughter in Your Morning Routine. Many of us have a routine that we follow every morning to help set us up to have a great day. How about adding laughter to your morning routine?

One way you can do this is bygetting a year-in-a-box calendar that will give you a quick laugh when you glance at the joke for the day. Choose a year-in-a-box calendar that tickles your fancy and put it right next to your alarm clock.

I’m partial to the Garfield year in-a-box calendars, but I know a lot of people like Dilbert. Start your day with laughter!

Garfield

Another idea is to get yourself a joke book and read one joke every morning.

3. Smile More. Yes, I know: smilin

you're all alone, check out whether there are any "laughter yoga" groups in your area. Like regular yoga, laughter yoga is guided by trained professionals—but instead of improving your flexibility, you'll practice laughing. While it may seem silly to laugh in a big group of strangers, many people attest to its health benefits and the effect of laughter yoga on mood.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you fake a laugh?

Klare Heston, LCSW

alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?”

“I have six locks on my door, all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three of them.”

7. Follow a Funny S

For instance, it's fine to spend al little time each day catching up on current events, but don't overdo it. The constant flow of negative stories can really bring you down.

Similarly, if there's anything 

at laughing has on one’s physical and mental health.

Here are some of the many benefits of laughing more:Laughter causes you to gulp in large portions of air, thereby oxygenating your blood.

Laughter decreases stress hormones in the body such as cortisol and adrenaline, thus helping to stave off illness.

Pay attention to the things that really hit your funny bone. When you find something that makes you laugh, try to find other things that are similar to that—like reading books or watching movies from writers you like, or

15. Have a Favorite Comic Strip. My favorite carton strip of all time is Calvin & Hobbes. I have all of Bill Waterson’s Calvin & Hobbes books. When I need a pick-me up I grab the pile of books, sprawl out on my bed, and look through them.

In a short while I’m laughing, and soon after that I’m out of the funk I was in.Calvin & Hobbes

16. Start a Pintbbit likeyou watch it, no matter how many times it's been.

Laughter strengthens the immune system.

When we laugh our bodies release hormones and chemicals that have positive effects on our system. One of these chemicals is endorphins, the feel-good hormone.

One minute of laughing burns thg is not laughing. However, smiling also has a myriad of benefits. When you smile, happy changes begin to take place automatically, both internally and externally. In addition, you can think of smiling as a warm up for laughing.

One way to remember to smile more is to have smiling cues sprinkled throughout your day. There are a number of ways to do this, including getting yourself a coffee mug that makes you smile. That way, every time you get yourself a cup of coffee you’re reminded to smile.

Maxine

Here are three more cues you can use to remember to smile:

Smile as you step into the shower.

Smile

ou're concentrating reading a b

upsetting that you're dealing with, set aside some time every day to work through those feelings or strategize about solutions.

If you're a newspaper addict, start with the funnies and the human interest stories before you get too deep into the depressing stuff. Switch back and forth to keep your mood light.

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Commit to laughing every day.[13]Download Article

It will be easier to laugh spontaneously if you intentionally make yourself laugh at least once every day.



Laughing raises your mood; joyfulness through laughter is the fastest way to create a positive state of mind.

Laughing is good for the heart and improves blood circulation.



Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

Practice. But by all means, don't laugh at serious or tragic stuff. Only start by laughing at jokes and stories. Get in the habit of reacting with laughter.