Laughter is a great way to relieve stress. Here are some things that laughing accomplishes in the short term:

• Forces you to breathe more deeply and take in more oxygen

• Like exercise, it stimulates your heart and circulation, decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure

• Causes your brain to release endorphins (feel-good chemicals)

• Causes your muscles to relax, reducing the physical effects of stress

In the long term, some studies show that laughter may:

• Improve your mood

• Strengthen your immune system

• Lower pain

How to improve your sense of humor

• Keep humorous material front and center

• Seek out people who make you laugh

• Try laughter yoga

• Memorize and tell jokes to tell others

When using more humor, there are a few things to keep in mind

• It’s always safest to make fun of yourself

• Avoid making fun of others

• Avoid religious and political jokes

• When in doubt, leave it out