Laughter for Mood: Boost Your Wellbeing with Joy

It might sound simple, but tapping into laughter for mood is one of life’s most accessible well-being practices. When you’re feeling low, stressed, or just a bit flat, intentionally using laughter for mood can be the spark that lifts you up and helps you see things in a more positive light. This month, we’re exploring the science behind why laughter feels so good – and how you can use it to brighten your days, whatever life throws at you.

Understanding Mood: What It Is and Why It Matters

Mood is more than just a fleeting feeling – it’s the emotional backdrop to your day. When your mood is good, everything feels lighter and more manageable. When it’s low, even small things can feel overwhelming.

Mood isn’t random. It’s shaped by a mix of things, from how well you slept last night to what you ate for breakfast. Stress, relationships, and even the weather can all play a part. The people around us, our daily routines, and the challenges we face feed into our mood, sometimes without us even noticing.

But there’s another layer too – the chemistry in our brains. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins act like messengers, influencing whether we feel upbeat or a bit flat. When these chemicals are in balance, we’re more likely to feel positive and resilient. When they’re out of sync, it’s much easier to feel down or irritable.

Mood matters because it colours how we see the world and how we respond to it. A brighter mood can help us connect with others, handle stress, and enjoy life more fully. On the flip side, a low mood can make it harder to focus, sap our motivation, and leave us feeling disconnected. That’s why finding simple ways – like laughter – to gently lift our mood can make such a difference to our everyday wellbeing.

The Science Behind Laughter and Mood

Laughter isn’t just a reaction to something funny – it’s a powerful biological event that can lift your mood in surprising ways.

• Endorphin Release: When you laugh, your brain releases endorphins – those “feel-good” chemicals that help create a sense of pleasure and wellbeing. These endorphins interact with opioid receptors in the brain, not only easing pain but also boosting mood and even helping with symptoms of depression. Research from University College London and the University of Turku shows that social laughter, in particular, triggers endorphin release in brain regions linked to emotion and arousal, making us feel more connected and content. The effect isn’t just fleeting – a good laugh can leave you feeling lighter for hours afterwards.
• Stress Reduction: Laughter is a natural stress-buster. It lowers levels of cortisol and adrenaline – the hormones responsible for your “fight or flight” response – helping you feel calmer and more resilient. Studies show laughter therapy can reduce blood levels of these stress hormones, reversing the stress response and even helping with anxiety and depression. Plus, laughter increases your oxygen intake, stimulates your heart and lungs, and encourages muscle relaxation, all of which help your body let go of tension and return to balance.
• Social Connection: Laughing together is a social glue. When you share a laugh, your body releases endorphins in the parts of the brain that help build trust and emotional bonds. This is why laughter is so contagious – hearing others laugh often makes you want to join in. Studies have found that shared laughter creates a sense of safety and belonging, reduces feelings of loneliness, and even helps us see others as more similar to ourselves. In fact, we’re much more likely to laugh in company than when we’re alone, and it’s often the presence of others – not just the joke itself – that gets us giggling.
• Physical Relaxation: Laughter gives your body a mini workout: it gets your heart pumping, increases circulation, and helps your muscles both contract and then deeply relax. This physical response can help break the cycle of stress and low mood, leaving you feeling refreshed and more at ease. Laughter also increases oxygen flow to the brain, which can clear brain fog and help you think more clearly. Over time, regular laughter can even help improve sleep and boost your immune system.

And remember, laughter doesn’t always have to be spontaneous. Even “fake” laughter can set off some of these positive changes in the body, but the biggest mood boost comes from genuine, hearty laughter – especially when it’s shared with others.

So what makes laughter “genuine”? Scientists call this Duchenne laughter. It’s the kind that bubbles up from deep inside, usually in response to something truly funny or joyful. You’ll notice it not just by the sound, but by the way it lights up your whole face – especially around the eyes. This type of laughter is linked to a bigger release of endorphins and a stronger sense of connection with those around you. In brain scans, genuine laughter activates more areas linked to emotion, social bonding, and pleasure than polite or forced laughter.

Genuine laughter also has a ripple effect. When you laugh authentically, it’s more likely to make others laugh too, creating a feedback loop of positive energy and connection. This is why a shared belly laugh with friends or family can leave you feeling uplifted for hours, and why laughter is such a powerful tool for building relationships and lifting group morale.

So don’t hold back – embrace the giggles, the belly laughs, and yes, even those laughter lines. They’re a sign you’re giving your brain and body exactly what they need, and that you’re truly living in the moment.

Bringing Laughter and Mood Together

So, how can you use laughter to boost your mood? The good news is you don’t need hours of comedy – just a few minutes of genuine laughter can make a real difference. Even a quick burst of laughter can trigger a cascade of positive effects throughout your body and mind, helping you reset when life feels heavy.

Aim for at least 10–15 minutes of laughter a day. This doesn’t have to be all at once – think of it as little doses of joy you can sprinkle throughout your day. Watch a funny video on your lunch break, swap jokes with a friend, listen to a comedy podcast, or reminisce about a hilarious memory. Even intentionally seeking out laughter, like joining a laughter yoga session or spending time with people who make you giggle, can help you tap into these benefits.

Laughter isn’t just a solo act, either. It’s deeply social and contagious. When you laugh with others, you’re not just sharing a joke – you’re building trust, strengthening bonds, and creating a sense of belonging. Professor Sophie Scott’s research at UCL shows that laughter is a social emotion at its core, and the simple act of laughing together can lift everyone’s spirits and help us feel more connected. It’s no wonder that after a good laugh with friends, worries seem to fade and everything feels a bit more manageable.

Beyond the immediate mood boost, laughter also helps us cope with stress and setbacks. It acts as a pressure valve, releasing tension and helping us see problems in a new light. When you laugh, your brain releases endorphins and dopamine – natural chemicals that not only elevate your mood but also make it easier to bounce back from challenges. Over time, these regular moments of laughter can build resilience, helping you stay positive and adaptable, even when life gets tough.

So, if you’re feeling down or overwhelmed, don’t wait for laughter to find you—go looking for it. Reach out to someone, share a funny story, or give yourself permission to enjoy something silly. As Professor Sophie Scott from University College London says, “Laughter is a social emotion—it brings people together and lifts everyone’s spirits”. In many ways, laughter is one of the quickest, simplest ways to feel better, reconnect, and remind yourself that joy is always within reach.

Putting It All Together: The Alchemy of Being Approach

At The Alchemy of Being, we see laughter as a key part of your “Toolbelt for Life.” Here’s how some of us use laughter to keep our spirits high:

Charlotte takes a laughter break with her favourite comedians whenever she needs to reset her mood.

Sally finds that a night in with friends and a bottle of red wine always leads to laughter and lifts her spirits.

Vicky swears by watching silly animal videos online—they never fail to make her smile, no matter how her day is going.

Maybe for you, it’s a comedy club, a funny podcast, or a laughter yoga session. The important thing is to find what makes you laugh and make it a regular part of your routine.

April Challenge: Laugh for a Better Mood

Last month, you tracked how laughter could ease pain, and before that, you started your “Laughter Log” to notice what makes you smile. This month, let’s bring it all together and focus on how laughter lifts your mood:

1. Update Your Laughter Log: Keep adding to your log, but this time, note how your mood shifts before and after a good laugh. Notice any patterns – do certain types of humour or situations lift you more than others?
2. Share the Joy: Reach out to someone and share something that made you laugh—whether it’s a joke, a meme, or a funny video. Notice how sharing it affects both your moods.
3. Schedule Laughter Breaks: Set aside time each day for something that makes you laugh. It could be a comedy show, a silly podcast, or just a few minutes of playful fun with family or friends.
4. Reflect: At the end of the month, look back at your log and see how laughter has influenced your mood, pain levels, and even your sense of connection with others.

Ready to take your laughter practice to the next level? If you’re up for a deeper dive, check out our 30-Day Laughter Challenge, available for £9.99.

Share Your Journey with Us!

We’d love to hear how laughter has brightened your mood this month! Share your stories below, or use #GiggleGalleryChallenge and tag us @TheAlchemyofBeing.me on social media. Let’s keep spreading joy and supporting each other—one laugh at a time!