Smile like you mean it
Tuesday 12 April 2005
We're forever being told to cheer up by parents or teachers, but did you know that smiling could be good for you?
American research has shown that around 15 minutes of laughter a day can set you on the road to good health, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, stress and depression.
Having a giggle can also ward off allergies, boost your immune system and even be a natural painkiller. Here's our guide to getting grintastic.
Chuckle vision
Dig out some DVDs of your favourite comedy shows or take yourself off to the cinema and see a knockabout comedy. Even if the film's not a particularly good one, why not have a laugh at how bad it was instead? Still can't bear to sit through it? Get a few mates round, whack the DVD on, mute the sound, and put your own words in the actors' mouths. You can be as outrageous as you like, there are no censors to stop you! Make your favourite kids' movie an instant 18 certificate!
Knock knock
Nobody can ever remember the jokes they're told, but once you start telling a few to your mates they should all come flooding back. Try and make up some of your own, it doesn't matter how awful they are. If you've got some of those bumper joke books with every bad joke that ever existed, even better! Read the jokes out to your mates in funny voices, or do impressions of people you know telling the jokes. Be as rubbish as you like; some of the world's best comedians have been successful purely by telling really poor jokes.
Play day
Tempt out your inner child and do something that would have made you scream with laughter when you were younger. Why not take yourself off to the park and have a go on the swings. Roll yourself down a hill (watch out for dog poo) or take a spin on the roundabout. It beats sitting around watching TV and being miserable. So people can see you, who cares?
Here's looking at you
Pull faces at yourself in the mirror and try to get yourself laughing. Even faking a laugh is good for you because it releases hormones that boost your health. You might just find yourself doing it for real.
Caught in the net
The internet is a great source of laughter. From sites that feature some of the funniest real-life capers of some of the world's, er, less fortunate people, to ones with clips of classic comics doing their thing, if the internet can't raise a smile, then nothing will.
Happy people
Try and keep your conversations light and make sure you're the bearer of mainly good news. Doom and gloom is contagious so avoid being too serious all the time and don't let bad things prey on your mind. Backstabbing and bitching about people is negative, try and see the good in people and encourage your friends to do the same. Try thinking positive, happy thoughts. Yes, it sounds like an old clich?, but it works!
What makes you laugh out loud? Get in touch and let us know how you get a grin going.
