We have all heard the expression "laughter is the best medicine". Numerous studies have shown that laughter boosts your immune system, alleviates pain, and strengthens your heart, and improves your circulation. Laughing just 100 times is the equivalent of a 10 to 15 minute aerobic exercise. Babies laugh an average of 400 times a day, people over 35 may laugh 15 times a day, and even less than that during the weekday. People with high stress levels, anxiety, and even depression have less connectivity between the frontal lobe and the reward centers of the brain. Laughing directly re-establishes those connections.

Laughter reduces stress and increases energy. It engages people and makes them feel good. We can all use those feelings in the workplace. When you laugh with someone, you get to know them better, it can ease stress during crunch time. Quick to laugh people are a joy to work with. The relief we experience from a good laugh is long lasting and rejuvenating. Maximal Achievers are often in leadership positions. Studies have shown that executives who were ranked as outstanding, used humor twice as much as others. Today think of three things you can do to make your culture and environment more fun. Challenge yourself and others to make laughter an everyday practice, at work and at home.