
There are always two ways to do your work , either you do it in stress or by enjoying it with laughter. The later one is an approach I use and recommend to all the workers. When you love your work and know how exactly it should be done , being in that makes you stress free but when you are conscious about that work constantly being overstressed and then doing it, it surrounds you with a circle of negative vibes which can make a workplace totally hell for everyone,but when you laugh together forming bonds,it increases productivity, performance and passion towards your work, you don’t get tired of being over worked rather you want to do it more.All of this being said, you might be thinking it’s just my opinion and it’s not for real. So, get along with me laughing and let me unveil all the scientific researches, case studies and proved studies for the same…… maintain that smile all through my article, you gonna love it…….
How laughter makes you a better worker

So what is laughter? In the past two decades, probably the most work to understand this has been done by American neuroscientist Robert Provine, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He reminds us that laughter is akin to our animal call sign, saying in his 2001 book Laughter: A Scientific Investigation: “Laughter is the quintessential human social signal. Laughter is about relationships.”
We are 30 times more likely to laugh when we are with other people than when we’re alone

Laughter is a subconscious signal that we’re in a state of relaxation and safety, says professor Sophie Scott from University College London. For instance, many mammals exhibit laughter-type reactions – but that they can be stopped by certain emotional states.

In other words, if a group is laughing together, then it suggests that our protective guard is down.
This matters because there’s research to suggest that when our brains are relaxed, we more easily achieve free idea association, which can lead to creativity.
Flashes of inspiration
John Kounios at Drexel University and Mark Beeman from Northwestern University wanted to see whether laughter could help people solve tricky logic puzzles.
They showed subjects Robin Williams delivering comedy zingers in a stand-up routine and then asked them test questions. They were interested to see whether laughter would facilitate more flashes of inspiration in the superior anterior temporal gyrus (a part of the brain just above your right ear which is associated with connecting distantly-connected ideas).

The Neuroscience of Laughter, and How to Inspire More of It at Work


The neuroscience of laughter
Laughing swaps the cortisol in our bloodstream with highly sought after chemicals in the brain: dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins. Dopamine can enhance learning, motivation, and attention.
Oxytocin is considered the “empathy hormone” and the “bonding chemical,” and when it enters the bloodstream it creates feelings of relatedness. Endorphins trigger feelings of pleasure; people can endure 15% more pain simply by laughing for a few minutes beforehand. Other health benefits: improved immune functioning, stress relief, improved cardiovascular health, reduced anxiety, sense of safety, and improved mood.
Laughter also works as a reappraisal technique, reducing the limbic response associated with “fight-or-flight” reactions. In other words, when feeling stressed the physiological act of laughter can decrease heart rate and blood pressure and relax muscle tension. Just a moment of laughter allows us to think more clearly and creatively and raises relatedness with our colleagues.
Laughter in the Workplace

Studies have shown laughter can decrease stress hormones in the blood, as well as increase our “feel-good” chemicals, endorphins. It could even have a positive effect on the immune system. Via an article from World Economic Forum.

And in addition to any potential health benefits of laughter in the workplace, it also plays an underrated role in strengthening workplace bonds.

- By your mid-20s you’ve started laughing a lot less than you used to.
- Laughter helps people bond, promotes inclusiveness and fosters creativity.
- You don’t have to be a comedian; just being open to laughter in the workplace is enough.
The health benefits

Several studies suggest that laughter may improve certain aspects of physical or mental health.

Scientists used to think laughter was a unique human behavior, perhaps even one of the things that separate humans from nonhuman animals. However, research now proves this is not true. A 2021 study found that laughter occurs in at least 65 nonhuman animal species.
Some evidence suggests laughter may improve mental health.
For example, in a 2018 systematic review of group-based laughter yoga that included six prior studies, researchers found that laughter yoga improved depression symptoms over the short term in two studies. The study’s authors say that laughter yoga is a potentially helpful intervention, but there is not yet enough evidence to prove that it works.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis also cautions there is insufficient current evidence to support laughter therapies, but it found preliminary evidence that laughter may improve mental health. The analysis also found some evidence that laughter could improve depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Additionally, the researchers reported that induced, simulated laughter was more effective than spontaneous, humorous laughter.
Lead With Laughter: How Humor Can Positively Transform A Work Environment

The reality is humor gives our brains a break — a break from worrying about what’s next. It’s also the closest connection between two people. When you’re laughing, you aren’t worrying or focusing on what may or may not happen. You are in the moment, and that mental moment helps you feel refreshed.
Researchers have learned that humor can help people recover from stressful situations. While there is no lack of stressful or political situations at work, there is a lack of solutions to stress.
CONCLUSION

In my experience, people fear humor in the workplace because of the common belief that if you’re laughing, you aren’t learning or working and you are not serious for your work. That’s just not true. You can laugh and learn, and maybe even learn more because people are open. It’s a balance of focusing on what needs to be done and encouraging fun.
So, laugh your heart out , it’s good for your beautiful heart❤️
– by Cheenu Singh Sisodiya
(Psychologist)