I realized what was bothering me while I was walking the dog in the rain in the dark. Certainly, that might be enough to bum me out, but it being warm enough in January in Chicago is usually great, if you’re wearing the right kind of shoes. (I was not wearing the right kind of shoes.) Someone called about a doctor’s bill in the middle of the day and my son has still not learned the fine art of putting down the toilet lid. Mild annoyances, but not enough for my current dark mood.
And then it struck me. I’m not laughing enough. In life before COVID, I would trade funny stories with clients before getting down to business, listen in on the outrageous antics of middle-schoolers at pick up, and howl at the ridiculousness of our collective children’s behavior at Friends of the School committee meetings.
Now, that’s all gone. Clients, under pressure to perform and suffering from Zoom fatigue, want to get right to business. Local schools are closed so there’s nobody to see in the hallways or on the playground. The middle-school students hide their faces on-screen and communicate via social media, sometimes through pictures and words that disappear shortly after they’re sent.
Doctors tell us that laughter can physically reduce the effects of stress. It stimulates circulation, encourages muscle relaxation, and increases endorphins, all of which leaves you feeling relaxed and happy. In the long-term, laughter can relieve pain and boost your immune system.
If you’re feeling stressed and can’t find reasons to laugh, read on for 5 things that could get you giggling.
1. Looking for some wholesome laughs? Watch classic TV. The chocolate factory scene from I Love Lucy or the wig scene from Dick Van Dyke always promote laughter. Though funerals aren’t usually a time for laughter, this episode of Mary Tyler Moore is often listed among TV’s funniest!
2. Start a pillow fight. If your kids are still young, walk into their room and start hitting them gently with pillows. Make sure to bring extra “ammo” from around the house. The ensuing battle should burn some energy and leave you gasping for breath between giggles.
3. Plan a Zoom or Google Hangouts gabfest with a group of friends. The women in my neighborhood, who met more than fifty years ago at a PTA meeting, still talk once a month! Grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger), and your favorite snack and settle in with your high school girlfriends or the women who kept you laughing during your first job.
4. Stream a movie that had you rolling in the aisles as a teenager—you can even invite your kids. Either it will still be funny, or you’ll laugh at the costumes and effects.
5. Listen to a parenting podcast. Of course you’ll find ones about discipline and breastfeeding, but there are also some lighthearted ones. Head to Spotify, Google Play Music, or Apple Podcasts and search motherhood. You can also head to BLOOM mom tribe’s very own podcast, Mama’s Gotta Bloom!
Wishing you laughter as this New Year continues - Toby