Is it true that laughter really is the best medicine? Well, studies have proven that laughter can indeed help you get fit in your retirement years! With so many potential benefits to reap, why not get out there and spend some fun time with friends or watch a comedy? These are both activities that are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.
Read on to find out more about how laughter in retirement years can help you!
Improve Short-Term Memory
Did you know that the stress hormone can have a negative impact on memory? However, it’s not all bad news. The good news is that the more you laugh, the more the levels of cortisol in your brain are reduced. This gives your brain the time it needs to repair itself from the damage caused by stress, improving your short-term memory function.
Boost Energy
Have you ever laughed so hard that your stomach hurts? If you remember some of your fondest memories, were you clutching your stomach from laughing so hard? If that’s the case, you may already know that laughing gives your abdominal muscles a good workout.
While it may not exactly be cardio, it does engage many nerves and muscles within the body. Who knows, you may just find yourself motivated to move around more after a good laugh!
Reduce Blood Pressure and Increase Blood Flow
Is your stress causing your blood pressure levels to go through the roof? If so, you will be glad to know that laughing can bring down your stress levels and consequently, your blood pressure. And that’s not all: Laughing can also increase your blood flow, which can go some way towards protecting you from cardiovascular diseases!
Fight Against Depression by Releasing Endorphins
The production of endorphins can be triggered in numerous ways. For instance, if you work out often, you may experience the release of endorphins from a runner’s high. For many of us, one commonality that results in the release of endorphins is laughter.
As these chemicals help to reduce the effects of stress and the way you feel pain, you may just find that it helps in the symptoms of depression you are experiencing. Some older adults can find themselves feeling depressed as they struggle to adapt to this new phase of their life. When you make it a conscious decision to laugh some more, you may just find that it helps!
Soothe Muscular Tension
When you are stressed, you may find that your muscles tense up. However, when you laugh more, the increased blood flow also results in better circulation, which can help to soothe muscle tension.
Wondering How You Can Laugh More?
If you find that you don’t have many opportunities for laughter while aging in place, consider making the move to a residential assisted living community. When you are surrounded by peers whom you can take part in many meaningful activities with, you are sure to share some joyous moments that will lead to laughter!
