Laughter Is Self Care
Laughter Is Self Care
Sometimes I can feel myself - and my life - getting too serious. It’s when my shoulders creep up toward my ears, my mind starts looping through to-do lists, and my heart feels heavy. That’s my cue. Time to lighten up – and get silly.
Here’s how I alleviate the gravitas. It might sound trivial - laughter, play, goofiness - but I’ve come to see it as one of the most effective forms of self-care we can use. Play pulls us out of the grip of ego, that inner voice that says: you should be doing more, working harder, being better. The ego loves measuring and comparing - but the simple act of laughter dissolves the pressure put upon us.
When we play, we remember what it’s like to be free.
Modern research supports what our spirits already know: laughter heals. Laughter enriches your intake of oxygen, stimulates your heart and lungs, and releases endorphins, your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It also cools down the stress response by lowering blood pressure and relaxing muscles, leaving you calmer and more balanced afterward.
A 2023 study found that laughter is, in fact, a form of medicine that improves well-being both mentally and physically. That’s not just a mood lift, it’s measurable relief. And perhaps most beautifully, research shows that laughter, especially shared laughter, deepens social bonds and fosters emotional resilience in older adults.
In short: laughter repairs.
Play is a spiritual act.
It’s a rebellion against the voice that tells us to stay small or serious. When we choose playfulness, we are saying to our bodies: I trust you enough to let go. When I start to feel overwhelmed, I’ve started asking myself:
How silly can I get right now?
Can I dance in my kitchen? Sing terribly in the car? Laugh at my own mistakes? Those small moments are sacred. They soften the edges of my day and remind me that joy is not earned, it’s allowed.
When we stop taking ourselves so seriously, we suffer less. It’s time to cultivate your sense of play. Make laughter intentional. Watch a ridiculous comedy, call a friend who makes you belly laugh, or try something new that invites joy without purpose.
Think: doodling, skipping or singing off-key.
Give yourself permission to be playful.
Because when we laugh, we come home to ourselves. We become light, open and fully alive.
This year, we’re exploring real-world self-care that helps you come home to yourself. Each month, I share simple, grounded ways to reconnect with your body, support your mental health, and create space for what truly matters. If you’d like to walk this path with me, my monthly newsletter offers reflections, practices, and resources to support your growth.
Rachel Gordon, MA, MEd, is a psychotherapist and founder of Humble Warrior Therapy, where she supports individuals in the Denver area with heart-centered, trauma-informed care.