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Why you need a good laugh (right now!)

Nothing beats the feeling of a great laugh. Claire Barnardo reminds us why laughter should be part of every day.

Laughter has been called the best medicine (apart from insulin, of course!). And it’s no surprise why. Bursting into laughter is an immediate stress release. It relaxes the mind and body and instantly lifts your mood. With such great benefits, there are plenty of reasons to keep laughing out loud.

Laughter and your body

It’s not only fun to laugh, it’s also great for your health. One good laugh does all this to your body:

  • Increases your heart rate and oxygen, which gives you more energy.
  • Normalises your blood pressure and improves circulation.
  • Releases lots of feel-good hormones called endorphins.
  • Activates digestive and immune systems.
  • Improves your mental state and lifts depression.
  • Reduces stress levels immediately.

Positive outcomes

Besides being good for your health, laughter also has other benefits:

  • Laughter increases your self-confidence and motivation.
  • It brings people together and creates bonding between groups.
  • Laughter encourages creativity.
  • It increases your natural wellbeing, meaning you’re less likely to get sick.
  • Laughter can help you connect with your children, and bring out a sense of fun that’s easy to forget.
  • It’s free and can be done any time!

Finding light relief

In our busy, stressful lives, laughing is not always a priority. But making time to unwind and see the humour in situations can have a big effect on your attitude. Need a quick fix? Here are some ideas.

  1. Watch a funny movie.
  2. Go to a local comedy show.
  3. Read the jokes section of the newspaper.
  4. Hang out with funny friends.
  5. Do fun or silly activities like putt putt or jumping on a trampoline.

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Sweet Life is a registered NPO/PBO (220-984) with a single goal: to improve diabetes in South Africa. We are funded by sponsorships and donations from aligned companies and organisations who believe in our work. We only share information that we believe benefits our community. While some of this information is linked to specific brands, it is not an official endorsement of that brand. We believe in empowering people with diabetes to make the best decisions they can, to live a healthy, happy life with diabetes.

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