Scents of Relief seeks to make life a little lighter, whether that’s through sharing a few poop jokes/puns or shedding some light in the dark. But why do we believe so strongly in this mission? Humor actually affects your health and well-being, and we want our people to feel good! Read more about our mission HERE.
1. Stress Hormone Reduction
We all love a good belly laugh, but we might not realize the magic happening biologically. I feel like I’m reading about the dangerous effects of high stress hormones, such as cortisol, everywhere right now. The Mayo Clinic shared that laughter actually REDUCES CORTISOL AND EPINEPHRINE. Not only is it fun to laugh, but you are also actually releasing stress.
2. Mental Health Benefits
When in the trenches of mental health, doing anything can feel hard. What is suggested to help us through these times can feel impossible. “Just go for a run!” “Cook and eat healthy meals!” These suggestions can feel like too much. Luckily, putting a comedy special on your favorite streaming service and having a laugh can have some equal benefits! Humor is found to reduce mental health issues, and therapists have begun incorporating humor into sessions. Laughter heals!
3. Heart and Immune System Strength
Laughter is exercise! Reducing stress hormones lowers blood pressure. According to UCLA, laughing for 10-15 minutes a day can burn up to 40 calories, especially beneficial for older adults who might be missing out on crucial daily exercise. Similarly, laughing increases the production of immune cells, protecting from infection and illness.
We know life gets busy. So many sources preach time-consuming, difficult ways to increase health and wellness, when the answer could be right under our noses! Humor and laughter each day can greatly increase our health and well-being. Lighting a candle that makes you chuckle is an easy way to improve your life!
How do you add a little bit of joy to your life? We would love to hear from you, so let us know below!
