Living Out Laughter is the Best Medicine for Better Health - Even When It Snows in April
There’s a reason April is also National Humor Month. It just has to be because of crazy Chicago weather!
The second week of April I was in a tank top and sweating out daily highs for five days in the upper 70’s and low 80’s. Two days later, on April 17th, I was back in my down coat and earmuffs experiencing snow pelting down on me. Whew, I had almost sent the coat to the cleaners for the season! I even witnessed snow accumulating in the patio furniture seat cushions of a Westin hotel I passed by on my walk to the post office (see picture). Right after my 10K on Earth Day it rained, hailed and snowed and hailed and snowed…and hailed.
My husband and I have this running bet on snow being done for the season; he keeps saying we’re not done and I say we are. I’ve lost two times already…in April? Then again, when I lived in Colorado, it snowed in May.
Now some people might feel a bit down experiencing this kind of improbable weather cycle, and there have certainly been times I’ve been one of them. However, more often than not I choose to be amused and find the humor in Mother Nature messing with my psyche.
Finding the Lighter Side
It’s not just when it snows in April that I try to find the lighter side of things. My late Father always tried to “keep it light” and I think that message became ingrained in me. This will date me, but my Grandmother always had a Reader’s Digest subscription and one of the regular columns was “Laughter, the Best Medicine” and I used to love to flip right to that column. Turns out they knew what they were talking about as they featured it for years and the column also generated a series of books.
Besides lifting your mood in the moment, laughter has actual positive short-term and long-term effects on your body and mental health as noted in this Mayo Clinic piece ranging from stress reduction to enhancing your oxygen uptake to pain reduction and boosting immunity.
So how do you find more ways to turn that frown upside down in everyday life?
1. Connect with others who have a good sense of humor, be the one who makes jokes that bring a smile to the face of others, or both!
I’m very fortunate in that my husband happens to be hilarious much of the time, and we have a lot of fun building on each other’s jokes. In fact, a joke that falls flat can even be funny if you’re in the right mood. Figure out who that is for you and spend more time together. While you’re at it, also make the effort to be the jokester for others in your life.
2. Find media that makes you laugh
Check out movies, TV shows, books, blogs, youtube videos and joke lists. Think back to something that made you bust a gut in the past and dust it off to enjoy all over again.
Whatever is your favorite mode of consuming content, there’s bound to be something that makes you laugh out loud and that you can share with others to help brighten their day.
3. Practice reframing your thoughts
Purposely changing up your thoughts about what you are experiencing in your life from a negative to a positive where it makes sense is a powerful technique I use in coaching with my clients.
For example, suppose someone cuts you in line at the supermarket when they open a new register (never happens I know). You could get angry and curse the person under your breath or you could make fun of their need to cut the line, or what they’re buying instead and keep your blood pressure down.
The Humorous Takeaway
When Mother Nature pelts you with snow or hail in April, or uses her powers to throw off the weather any time of year, don’t get mad, laugh at the absurdity.
Challenge yourself to take this approach to see the lighter side with as many of the curveballs life throws your way on a daily basis, and see if it starts to become second nature for better mood and health.
Of course now I’m seeing a possibility of rain mixed with snow for the long range forecast for early May. Will I still be laughing in May?
P.S. You can be doing everything else right to healthfully lose weight, but if you aren’t doing a great job of stress reduction, it can be a factor in why you’re not seeing as much success as you’d hoped.
If you’re ready to explore getting my personal support with your weight loss journey holistically across all aspects of your health on the road to the happiest and healthiest you, I invite you to schedule your free weight loss breakthrough coaching session.
Please speak with your healthcare professional about your specific needs and to determine if Wellness Coaching is appropriate for you and before implementing any suggestions on this Your Healthy Life Made Easy Blog. Individual results may vary and cannot be guaranteed. Melanie Jordan is not liable for any loss or injury associated with information published on this blog as it is provided solely for your education and entertainment.
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