LIVING WELLNESS
Find ways to increase laughter in your life
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Simple things you can do to boost your emotional health as forced laughter and since it is contagious, it then becomes real. You can also look up videos for exercises if you do not have the time to enrol in the classes.
ooking for a way to instantly lift your mood? Laughter has a positive impact on our physical and emotional health in so many different ways. It boosts our immune system, helps our heart health and protects our body and mind from the damaging effects of stress. Studies have shown that laughter can reduce anxiety and depression and make people happier. Laughter also has the potential to bring people together and strengthen bonds. Many newcomers who are busy with everyday struggles and other anxieties say that they don’t laugh as much as they used to in their home countries. The common reasons shared by them are the lack of opportunities such as family events, gatherings with friends and lunch break chats in workplaces. Some also indicate that they don’t have
Try something new and playful: Visiting a comedy club, taking an amusement park ride, playing with little kids or pet sitting can lighten your mood. You may also think of throwing a laugh party once in a while for friends (you can even consider doing it virtually during COVID).
the time and often face language issues and cultural differences in understanding humour. Finding activities and outlets for laughter can be more challenging for seniors, those with disabilities or newcomer
Find laughter online: In this digital age, you may want to try checking out resources and people mothers who are homebound for who are in the job of making others laugh. Find a comedy show on TV most of the day. or follow a comedian on YouTube. With laughter being such a A chuckle or a loud laugh on your powerful, free tool to help our own can serve as a daily dose for wellness and to heal, here are a few your mental health. simple things you can do to increase laughter in your life: Laugh with others: Make time and create opportunities to laugh Surround yourself with things together. Have fun with your family and people who make you laugh: by tickling one another, watching We are all different and different Just for Laughs Gags/Mr. Bean videos things make us laugh. A funny together or making your own funny poster/joke book/funny face photo videos to create fun memories in your room can give you the and help you laugh too. If you live needed humor boost. Spending alone, invite a local friend to watch time with people who are light with you and help you understand hearted, silly and funny can be very comedy and satire from this culture. uplifting. With the current COVID-19 crisis Laugh at yourself: As a newcomer, prolonging and continuing to be if you have had experiences that stressful, we may not have enough were embarrassing, laugh it out. reasons to laugh and some of us Slipping and having a light fall in may have forgotten what it is like to snow, mispronouncing a word, have a good, hearty laugh. taking a wrong bus route may seem serious, but laughing can It is very important that we create help. Making a conscious effort by opportunities to laugh and reap its visualizing funny events from the benefits. After all, laughter is the past can also make you laugh. best medicine that does not require a prescription and is within reach. Enroll in laughter yoga: This unique style of yoga combines yogic Laugh your way to better health in breathing and laughter. It starts 2022! Nandini Tirumala is a mental health wellness coach, educator and advocate with 25 years of experience in Canada with a special focus on mental health support services for newcomers and immigrant families. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |
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