Laugh More - It’s Good For You!
Sat in one of my favourite café’s in Perth, ‘Livid Skate Café’, waiting for my very manly decaf almond mocha, I hear a lovely Northern accent shout out ‘decaf mocha’. I race up to the counter and he points over at my coffee. I look to the other barista and take my large mug of cheeky naughtiness and say ‘thank you’ and the barista says ‘gracias’, and then quickly corrects herself saying, ‘I mean, thank you’.
We both pause for a minute and then crack up laughing. It’s so infectious. Even now as I write, I can close my eyes and see and feel the impression of that expression. It makes me feel warm, joyous and happy.
I take that energy back with me to my table and it inspires me to want to write.
I once heard that kids laugh on average 300 times per day and adults, only 20 times a day. 67.2345% of stats are made up on the spot so I have no idea how true this is but I don’t doubt there’s an imbalance.
When I hang out with my friends with kids, I definitely find myself laughing more, at the simplest of things.
I have such a wide and diverse group of friends. I like to surround myself with all kinds of deep and expansive thinkers and creative and adventurous souls, but more importantly, I like to surround myself with people I feel I can laugh with.
Even now, living on the other side of the world, I have certain friends we need only text a line to one another from a stupid gag we once said to each other years ago, that triggers the same response and makes us both laugh.
Like yawning in front of others, I believe laughter works in the same way, it’s infectious.
According to the Help Guide, laughter relaxes the whole body, boosts the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins (the body’s natural feel-good chemicals), protects the heart, burns calories, lighten’s anger’s heavy load and helps you live longer, so laughter really is the best medicine.
How often do you laugh? When did you last laugh? Who were you with? What were you doing? Who makes you laugh the most? How much time do you get to spend with them? Can you spend more time with them this year?
Close your eyes for a minute and think of someone who makes you laugh. Really think about their face. Allow those feelings to light up your body. Feels good doesn’t it!
Why not this week, make a conscious effort to lighten up and remind yourself to smile more, laugh more and find the joy in the simplest moments.
Life can get pretty serious at times.
Playfulness is a serious business!
Healthy lifestyle practices I’ve recently adopted:
The reason I’m on decaf is because I’ve found caffeine sends me to the outer stratospheres. With the help of the ‘Quit Coffee’ app, I have been off coffee now for 1 month and 4 days and am loving it. I can focus and concentrate a lot more and I don’t get the jitters or anxiety I used to feel on caffeinated coffee. I’m also able to stay present in conversation instead of getting side tracked and distracted. Caffeine is powerful.
I’ve also stopped drinking for 1 month and 12 days and I feel great. It’s summer here in Oz and I sometimes still fancy a beer between 17h00 & 19h30 on a weekend, but once I get through the initial temptation and have a Kombucha instead, I wake up feeling so grateful. I feel fresh and clean in both my mind and body.
The other good thing I’ve done for my mental health and wellbeing was spending almost 3 months off instagram. I feel I won my life back. I highly recommend it. I’m still trying to figure out how best to navigate that space, but I think it’s important to lay down some ground rules around my usage on it and create some healthy boundaries. I find it a highly addictive and potent tool that doesn’t always make me feel good about myself, so I advise those who have a similar response to monitor their usage and to take breaks or step away from it when needed.
Always remember, you’re not alone!
Big love,
Olly
