Laugh yourself better

Laugh yourself better

With winter fast approaching, we are entering flu season. I’ve noticed that people who catch the sniffles these days tend to stay sick for quite a while. Nobody enjoys being ill – and if you’re anything like me, you turn into a real buzzkill. I’ll do just about anything to avoid getting sick.

I was chatting with a physiotherapist friend of mine about studies on injury healing and endorphins. The research showed that when an injury happens in a stressful situation – for example, breaking your toe while running away from a robber – healing tends to take longer. Compare that to breaking your toe while running to claim your lottery winnings. The key idea is that in a high-stress state (where endorphins are low and cortisol and adrenaline are high), healing takes longer.

This got me thinking about what usually helps raise endorphins (our feel-good chemicals). Exercise is great, but not ideal when you’re feeling sick or injured. Spending time with lekker people is another winner, but that’s not always possible when you’re down with the sickness. Then it struck me – what about laughter?

Last week we wrote about our Two Oceans experience, and I specifically mentioned laughing – a lot. It stood out because I tend to be very task-driven and serious (Note from PJ: This made me laugh, because it is very true!). Laughing so much really improved my mental state that weekend. But what about laughing when we’re sick, injured, anxious, or depressed?

I then looked up some studies on laughter. Here are the most noteworthy findings:

• Cortisol reduction (the stress hormone linked to inflammation and disease): A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 interventional studies (315 participants) found that spontaneous laughter reduced cortisol levels by an average of 31.9% compared to control activities. Even a single session reduced cortisol by ~36.7%.
• Cardiovascular health: Laughter improves blood vessel function and blood flow.
• Pain relief and tolerance: Laughter boosts endorphins (our natural painkillers). Multiple studies show higher pain tolerance after exposure to comedy. For example, one study found participants could tolerate cold-induced pain longer after laughing. In cancer patients, laughter therapy halved pain levels in one recent trial.
• Immune and respiratory support: Laughter increases oxygen intake, ventilation, and immune markers (such as antibodies, natural killer cells, and salivary IgA). Laughter in children significantly raised IgA levels (an important immune indicator).
• Mood, well-being, and cognitive improvements: Laughter alters dopamine and serotonin activity and releases endorphins, easing depressed moods. Studies show improvements in memory (e.g., short-term memory in adults aged 65+), self-esteem, and life satisfaction. In elderly participants, laughter significantly boosted happiness and perceptions of life expectancy. Studies involving university students, nurses, and cancer patients reported lower anxiety, stress, and burnout, along with higher positive emotions and psychological well-being.

So what does this all mean?

We need to laugh more — and laugh longer. Feeling low? Laugh. Feeling tired? Laugh. Experiencing pain or discomfort? Laugh. Laugh on your own or laugh with others.

When was the last time you laughed properly? Do you know what or who makes you laugh?

This past week, we hosted a string of workshops where we used a board game to bring our point across. It felt much more like play than work, as we spent most of the time laughing. Or (re)watching recent episodes of Die Kantoor hits the spot every time! Instead of exposing yourself to content that makes you angry, disappointed, or demoralised, spend your time watching or with people who make you laugh.

Laughing may not be a miracle cure, but it is underappreciated, and it will definitely make your recovery feel much less dreadful.

If you would like to get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.

At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.