Tips For Wellness from Dragonfly: Impact Education
A day without laughter is a day wasted – Charlie Chaplin
Laughter is truly the best medicine and can have a hugely positive impact on our mental health. There are even laughter workshops and laughter coaching emerging in many places.
Why is laughing so good for us?
Laughing releases endorphins and relaxes your body and mind. Even if not engaging in full on laughter, smiling relaxes the mind and body. One interesting study suggested that it is actually the belief that the happiest people increase their wellbeing because they smile more frequently.
Our top tips for making the most of smiling and laughter:
- Keep It Real! Not all smiles are equal! In 1862, anatomist G B Duchenne noted that a muscle which surrounds the eye is only used in smiles that are real and not those that are posed. It’s these real smiles and laughter than release the endorphins so find things that genuinely make you happy!
- Find What Works For You: Our sense of humour is very individual. Some people like slap-stick humour whilst others prefer witty repartee! Don’t feel any pressure to follow the crowd but rather experiment with lots of types of comedy until you find something you like.
- Your Thoughts Matter: It’s really difficult to genuinely laugh or even smile if our thoughts are unhappy, so try to challenge negative thinking. Reframe this kind of thinking to positive (or neutral) thoughts and smile. This sends a signal to your body that everything is OK. It can be helpful to have a bank of happy thoughts that you bring to mind if you catch yourself in a negative spiral – things that always make you feel positive: loved ones, pets, beautiful experiences or views
Please contact [email protected] for information and advice about mental health and well-being for your child and your family.