When was the last time you had some really great…laughter? Plato once said, Life was meant to be lived as play. Yet, many people act as if life was meant to be lived as work. No pain, no gain. Life is a struggle.
Was Life Meant to Be Lived as ONLY Work?
Many people believe that laughing and being playful are a waste of time. Others only have fun in rebellion to having worked so hard all week, Thank God It’s Friday! And even in their enjoyment there is an underlying feeling of guilt.
Can Fun at Work INCREASE Productivity?
Actually, marrying work with play does improve productivity. It helps in many other areas, too. It can lower tension and unite colleagues in stressful times. A recent Loma Linda University study discovered that after participants laughed their way through a 20-minute humorous video, learning ability improved by 40 percent, and the stress hormone, cortisol, lowered by 45 percent.
The Dangers of a Hard-Driving Workplace
Hard-driving workplaces actually increase the likelihood of mistakes, disengagement and burnout. In different studies conducted by Gallup and the Queen’s School of Business, disengaged workers had 49 percent more accidents and 37 percent higher absenteeism. Moreover, health care costs at high-stress companies are 46 percent higher.
Laughter and Your Health?
Many people are busy taking supplements, rushing to the gym and eating balanced meals. Yet, often having a bit of fun and enjoyment is far better for your whole immune system. In the last 30 years, science has proven that laughter IS the best medicine. Norman Cousins started the whole trend with his book, Anatomy of an Illness, He contracted a terminal illness and was told he had only 6 months to live, His chance of recovery was one in 500. He knew in his heart that all the years he spent worrying, getting irritated, and denying himself fun had caused the dis-ease, the imbalance. He was in tremendous pain, so much so that he could not sleep, He noticed that for every 5 minutes of laughter, he had two hours pain free, He watched hours of comedy movies, read humorous books, had friends tell him funny stories. He had a complete remission and went on to live another happy, healthy, and productive 20 years, He credits visualizations, the love of his family, and laughter for his recovery. Laughter, therefore, can help us regain balance in an all-work-no-play kind of world.
S.T.R.E.S.S.
According to comedian, Karen Kolberg, STRESS is an acronym for
- Staying
- Tense
- Regularly
- Even though you
- See that it’s
- Stupid
Regular stress does more to undermine your health than skipping the gym or eating ice cream. On the other hand, fun helps the immune system, cures depression, revitalizes the body, mind and spirit, and has no unpleasant side effects. Being playful stimulates your creative mind, changes your perspective, enhances rapport with others, and makes you more attractive to other people! Laughing and playing is organic, low-fat, with no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients and is 100 percent wholesome. It takes no special training. In fact, babies can laugh within the first few weeks of life. It is free, You don’t need to go to a specialist to get laughter treatment. And, contrary to popular thinking, almost anyone can create opportunities to laugh all during the day, alone or with others. We all deserve the right to have more joy in our lives. If you’d like more information on this topic, see below.
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The Power of Laughter: Managing Change with a Sense of Humor
Right now you can get a copy of my new book on special (for a limited time only)
Discover:
* Your humor personality style
* How to marry work and play
* Mistakes to avoid when using fun at work
* and much more!
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