How humor can boost your health

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8 ways to add humor to your life By Angela Haupt Editor, Health and Wellness Earlier this year, I polled prominent happiness experts about their daily habits and was struck by how many told me they used laughter as a coping and healing mechanism. That's nice, I thought, but what if you have nothing to laugh at? As it turns out, there are lots of ways to find more humor in your life, even if your days are relatively boring. And there's good reason to do so: Research suggests that it sparks energy, boosts brain power, improves immunity, curbs stress, and enhances mood. If you're on a mission to laugh more, try out these tips: Identify at least one funny thing a day. Wake up in the morning and make a vow to find at least one thing to giggle at. You'll likely find the funny in unexpected places. Master one joke. Many of us innately love to make others laugh, and doing so doesn’t require great comedic skill. Learn and perfect one joke that makes you laugh—and then use it in situations that need some levity. (My go-to: Want to hear a joke about construction? The punchline: I'm working on it.) Enlist some props. My grandfather used to ask people if they wanted to see his pride and joy—and then whip out a photo showing cleaning supplies with those names. The experts I spoke to also encouraged the use of props. They particularly like wearing bright red clown noses in their Costco membership photos or when stuck in traffic. It's a guaranteed way to make someone's day. READ 5 MORE HERE   Share This Story

What Else to Read Raising Children in America Means Living in Fear That They’ll Be Shot By Katie Gutierrez How can this keep happening? How can we keep letting it? Read More » U.S. Backs Study of Safe Injection Sites to Prevent Drug Overdoses By CARLA K. JOHNSON/AP The grant provides more than $5 million over four years to New York University and Brown University to study three sites. Read More » How to Be Ambitious Without Sacrificing Your Mental Health By Jamie Ducharme The key is to harness ambition for a goal that serves your well-being. Read More » Spain and Portugal Experience Hottest April Ever Recorded By Laura Millan / Bloomberg The extreme heat in the western Mediterranean region would have been almost impossible without climate change. Read More » Why Online Shopping Makes You So Happy By Angela Haupt Experts explain the psychology behind online shopping—and tips to show restraint. Read More »

ONE LAST READ Why Planned Parenthood doesn't go far enough With its strong cultural and political influence, large network of clinics, and deep pockets, Planned Parenthood seems like a natural leader for the abortion rights movement. But, reports Eyal Press for the New Yorker, some abortion advocates argue Planned Parenthood isn’t doing nearly enough to protect access—and is actually making it harder for some independent clinics to provide desperately needed care. Read More »

If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, click here. Today's newsletter was written by Angela Haupt and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Mandy Oaklander.

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