If you’re struggling to improve your shift work health, I bet you’ve never realised that there’s an incredibly fast (and funny) way to do it – all in just 30 seconds.
And not only is it fast and easy – it’s also free!
Curious? Well it’s quite simply – LAUGHTER.
You see, laughter is good for you on so many levels. But it’s particularly good for shift workers because it helps boost your immune system – something we struggle with every single day when we work these crazy and irregular hours.
Laughter makes us feel better physically, mentally and emotionally.
But if laughter really is that good for us, then why are so many of us laughing less than we used to? As adults we laugh 3 times less than we did over one hundred years ago. On the other hand, children laugh 300-400 times a day compared to just 10-18 times a day for adults.
Of course a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’re all so darn tired and stressed that we’ve quite literally forgotten how to laugh.
But the good news is that we can change these numbers. We just need to re-train ourselves to learn how to laugh again.
In fact a great deal of research has revealed that laughter is virtually a miracle drug in that it stimulates the immune system. Tests were done on people before and after watching sitcoms for 30-60 minutes and results showed an increase in immune system activity which raises its ability to prevent and combat colds, flu and sinus problems.
Laughter also gives the heart a workout and increases circulation and flow of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.
And what’s even more exciting is that research undergone by Dr William Fry from Stanford University, led him to believe that …
100 laughs = 10 minutes of aerobic exercise!
How cool is that? So does that mean we can feel guilt-free parking ourselves on the sofa in front of the idiot box instead of going out and doing some exercise? Not quite, but it certainly shows how a good belly laugh does wonders for your health!
So if you’re tired of getting sick all of the time whilst you’re working shift work, stop and think when was the last time you had a really good laugh.
Try watching a funny DVD, delve into a humorous book or just gather up some friends and head out for a night to the local Comedy Club. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just get out there and laugh loud, laugh long and laugh often and you’ll be well on your way to improving your shift work health.
