The Benefits of Laughter

In the words of E.E. Cummings, “The most wasted of all days is one without Laughter.” This quote captures the deep impact of laughter on our lives, particularly on our mental health. 

At BWW Mind, we believe laughter holds a transformative power to promote emotional resilience and foster wellbeing in our lives. A good laugh is not simply a brief moment of amusement, it’s a potent weapon against whatever life throws at you. It serves as a healing force, uplifting broken spirits and reducing physical problems. That’s right, research has shown that laughter isn’t just medicine for the mind, it’s medicine for the body too. It lowers blood pressure, enhances sleep quality, boosts the immune system, and fosters a sense of overall wellbeing.

Laughter can also have many benefits socially, helping to build connections and strengthen relationships. Whether sharing a joke with a stranger on public transport or enjoying a humorous TV show with loved ones, laughter has an incredible ability to bring people together and encourage a sense of solidarity.

Since laughter is important to maintain positive mental health, here are some practical tips to bring laughter into your daily routine:

Start Your Day with a Joke: Begin your morning with a dose of humour by reading a joke in the newspaper or online, or by hearing one from a loved one. Breakfast and a joke go hand in hand to set a cheerful tone for the day ahead.

Indulge in Comedy: Dedicate a few minutes to watching a funny video online. Watch a stand-up comedian in person or on the TV. Allow yourself to let go of stress by watching comedic material that suits your type of humour.

Find Joy in Pets: Pets are natural bringers of laughter and joy. If you don’t or can’t have a pet, visit an animal rehoming centre or spend time with the pets of friends and family members to indulge in the infectious amusement they bring.

Create a ‘Fun Stuff’ Bank: Compile funny videos, stand-up comedy clips, and amusing anecdotes to have on hand for a quick mood boost. Share them with friends to spread the laughter.

Adopt a Playful Mindset: Embrace a playful outlook on life by finding the funny side in everyday situations. Tackle challenges with humour (as long as it isn’t insensitive), turning tension into laughter and uplifting your mood instantly.

Surround Yourself with Laughter: Spend time with people who give off that positive aura. Their contagious energy will uplift your spirits and help bring that little bit of sunshine into your life.

Tell a Joke Campaign

We’re calling all schools in Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster to help us spread the joy and join our ‘Tell A Joke Day’ campaign now! We encourage every child to bring in their favourite joke to share with their class, commencing and concluding lessons during the week with a good dose of laughter, requesting a £1.00 donation for all who take part.

Taking place this Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 from Monday the 13^th to Friday the 17^th this initiative aims to promote laughter and boost mental wellbeing in your school while raising vital funds to help support the mental health needs of our local community. If you pledge to raise £350 or more, we can come to your school to deliver an assembly talk!

To find out more about the work we do in our local community, visit our website: http://www.bwwmind.org.uk

To register your school in our ‘Tell A Joke Day’ campaign, please contact: mailto:[email protected].