Wellness Seminar
• Laughter and Wellness
• Joanie White ARNP• Director, Office of Clinical Effectiveness
Objectives
• Discover the influence laughter and fun have on your health
• Lighthearted outlook can enrich your life
• Teach you some blonde jokes
Experience
• Think of the most fun you have:– Creative– Supportive– Joy– Connection– Belong
Sense of Humor
• Not the ability to tell jokes• Is the ability to find something funny • Form of communication• Can be learned
Humor
• Humor is not just an attractive trait, but an essential human need that must be satisfied in order to survive.
Laughter
• Is a vital, critical element for human survival.
• Traditionally we are told that laughter and play are not adult and not professional.
Humor
• Is a choice
• Look for chances to choose to laugh
•CHOOSE TO LAUGH
Did the Bride Choose to laugh?
Benefits of Laughter
• Releases endorphins• Decreases stress• Relaxes muscles of back• Deep breathing-happy macrophages• Improves posture
Benefits
• Decreases pain response
• Sleep better
• Resilience- able to withstand stress
Cardiovascular Events
Private Ryan• Blood vessels constricted
by 50%
• Effect lasted an hour
Comedy• Vasodilatation occurred
• Up to 24 hours
• Ten minutes of laughing reversed the constriction of stressful movie
Humor can help us deal with setbacks, disappointment…..
• People seek out ways to bring fun and whimsy into their lives.
Discover Your Strengths
• Theme of “Positivity”• Humor, quick to smile, on the lookout for
the positive in a situation.– Energy– Optimism– No matter what, it’s good to be alive
Workplace
• Help cope with change
• Increases job satisfaction
• Reduces sick days
• Shows care/concern
• Improves recruitment
• Increased flexibility
• Able to learn faster
• Increased innovation
• Increased creativity
• Improves retention
What if the hokey-pokey is really what it’s all about?
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