You’ve parked up. You’re off the clock. And while everyone talks about rest, recovery, and putting your feet up (all great things, by the way), there’s another way to make the most of your Bank Holiday downtime – and it doesn’t involve a nap – laughter.
Yep. Good old-fashioned belly-laughing, eye-watering, snort-inducing laughter. It’s more powerful than most people give it credit for and science backs it up.
So what’s so good about a giggle?
Laughter isn’t just about feeling good in the moment it’s your body’s natural stress-buster. It reduces cortisol (your stress hormone), boosts endorphins (your feel-good chemicals), and gets your heart and lungs working a bit harder too, like a mini workout for your insides, minus the gym membership.
It can help lower blood pressure, improve your immune system, and even sharpen your thinking. Some studies reckon that people who laugh more often are better at coping with pain and pressure not a bad superpower to have.
How to get your laugh on this Bank Holiday
If you’re not naturally cracking up every five minutes, don’t worry like any good engine, you sometimes just need a jump-start:
- Rewatch your go-to comedy – Whether it’s Peter Kay, Only Fools and Horses or a daft movie you’ve seen 50 times, if it made you laugh once, it’ll do it again.
- Call that mate – You know the one. The one who always ends up in ridiculous situations and tells a story so well you can’t breathe for laughing.
- Try a funny podcast – Perfect for a walk, a sofa sprawl or even background noise while you’re pottering about. (And it’s less effort than reading.)
- Watch stand-up clips online – YouTube’s full of them. Quick laughs, no commitment, and sometimes unexpectedly brilliant.
- Hang out with people who make you laugh, easier said than done, but it works every time.
Because it’s not just about passing time it’s about boosting you.
So this Bank Holiday, while you enjoy the peace and quiet, don’t underestimate the power of a proper chuckle. Whether it’s a daft meme or an old joke, let yourself laugh – you’ve earned it.
And if you do find something that really gets you going, pass it on. Good laughter’s worth sharing.
View more of our health and wellbeing tips here.
