Connecting now is more important than ever for physical and emotional health in the face of “social distancing.” Laughing together is a great way to connect during the new normal in which meetings—professional and family—are convened via video connections. 

 

Removing physical proximity has many negative consequences, including decreased well-being and productivity. Getting back to previous times when people laughed an average of eighteen times a day, 97% of those occasions with others, is a laudable goal.

 

Laughing has been examined more than one might think, yielding interesting facts such as 80% of what people laugh at is not actually that funny. We are 30 times more likely to laugh with others than laugh alone—exactly why TV comedy shows employ prerecorded laugh tracks to promote audience enjoyment. Laughing, like yawning, is contagious. Just now, reading about yawning may cause you to yawn and stretch.

 

Contagion is an interesting, currently popular subject that has been studied extensively. Thinking about amusing contagion rather than noxious (as with COVID-19), an experiment was performed on 7 and 8-year-old children, demonstrating group responses to humorous materials. A 9-year-old was confidentially placed within one group, instructed to laugh and behave exuberantly, but then with a similar group, remain still when all were exposed to age-appropriate, moderately funny material. The “shill’s” behavior had a profound effect on the others. 

    

Laughing with others creates camaraderie, which is good physically and emotionally. When people laugh, the body releases two chemicals—endorphins and dopamine. Endorphins are released at the base of the brain by the pituitary gland, causing feelings of pleasure and pain-relief by interacting with the opioid receptors in the neural system. Dopamine creates a feeling of euphoria, helping with motivation, production, and socialization. Thus, laughing is a safe, quick “high” for reconnecting with friends even when impeded by physical isolation.  

 

While laughing, don’t forget about smiling, which is also contagious, releases the same two chemicals, and reinforces connections among folks. Smiling, even when forced, elevates mood and a sense of well-being. Believe it or not, smiling can make one look thinner and younger. Particularly interesting is that smiles can predict fulfillment in marriage and a longer life span.

 

Fun at home and in the workplace is always good. Mark Twain wisely shared, “The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.”

 

Here are some take-home lessons while switching to video conferences for a range of interactions:

• Smile a lot, and try to keep the pitch of your voice up, signaling you want to engage
• Slow down, and take time to connect
• Get into the mood before you start the interaction by thinking happy thoughts
• Set an example—just like yawning is catchy, so is enthusiasm

Laughter and smiling can be the antidote to the current daunting challenges.