Laughter can activate neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are mood-enhancing hormones (Photo: Thinkstock)
Since the novel coronavirus pandemic began, we have been bombarded with bad news. Added to this is the pressure of the home office and the consequent imbalance between personal and professional life. In this scenario, moments of joy are naturally rare. But according to experts, laughter is still the best medicine. For productivity, all inclusive.
Even with the adoption of hybrid work, the time spent with colleagues will still be minimal. This means that we will likely continue to have a few opportunities to relax and laugh throughout the day.
Daniel Sgroy, professor of economics at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, told reporters CNBCLaughter can increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which are neurotransmitters associated with feelings of well-being and pleasure. In other words, laughter improves mood, mood and disposition.
Laughter, he says, “accelerates networks in the brain to help you focus and focus,” which equates to an increase in productivity. But it only works if the laugh is real. “There is some evidence in neuroscience that just forcing yourself to laugh can have some of these effects, but to a much lesser degree,” he said.
The economics professor is a co-author of a survey published in 2015, which found evidence of a link between happiness and productivity. In one of the experiments in the study, participants were shown a series of comedies. Those who laughed the most and said they were the happiest recorded a 12% increase in productivity.
The relationship between happiness and work has been investigated by science for some time. But only recently has evidence been found that “happy people work harder”. “So it’s as if happiness generates more time,” Sgroy said. A happy person can do in an hour what an unhappy person can do in an hour.
And there’s more. According to Sophie Scott, director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, laughter helps reduce levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which are the hormones of anxiety and stress. “You get more endorphin absorption when you laugh and these are the body’s natural painkillers,” he added.
The boiling of the chemical compounds that activate in these moments of joy becomes even more powerful when people laugh together. Yes, accompanied laughter closes emotional ties. Teamwork can strengthen the bonds between the team, while reducing stress.
One of the tips to be able to laugh a lot in these lonely times is to keep a “laugh shop”. That is, separate out some of the things you find funny and explore them when you feel the urge. Here, fun videos, music, recordings, jokes and talking to that funny friend are worth it. .
But Sgroy cautioned against overexposure to these features: “Humans have an incredible ability to adapt. So what was funny ten minutes ago loses its comedic value when you listen to it two or three times in a row.”
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