Laughter Lightens the Mood

We recently discussed the stresses of work cultures today and how many people are finding themselves simply overloaded with work schedules and workplace demands in general. The results can include increased irritation and a more negative mood.

It all stems from the simple fact that the overload experienced in today’s work culture can place too much stress on our brains, causing many of us to spend all day multitasking and allowing no time to build a positive workplace environment. One of the biggest contributors to a positive organisational culture is team bonding, and this can be added to your culture in a familiar way: Humour.

Study: Humour Styles, Self-Esteem, and Subjective Happiness

We’re not just saying that humour lightens the mood; in fact, science has proven it: “About four-tenths of a second after we hear the punch line of a joke—but before we laugh—a wave of electricity sweeps through the cortex, reports Peter Derks, professor of psychology at the College of William and Mary.” More impressively, this electrical response affects the entire cortex – not just one region or area.

Those findings are interesting, but what do they say about the real-world effects of a full-cortex experience? A study by by psychologists Herbert Lefcourt, of the University of Waterloo, and Rod Martin, Ph.D., now at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, found that stressed-out folks who laugh often become less depressed and anxious than those who laugh less. And researchers at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, USA found that students who used humour as a coping mechanism were more likely to be in a positive mood.

Article: Humoring the Gelotologists

Laugh! Join us for Laughter Wellness in October, and learn how to gain these benefits for yourself. You can also learn more about Laughter Yoga, and how a HSG workshop can infuse it into your workplace culture.

Also, check out our Workplace Wellness page for more information about classes and workshops to help improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of your employees.