A group of people, friends or not, studying, working, talking, simply sitting together. One of them starts to giggle, and soon the room erupts with laughter. How frequently have you experienced this phenomenon?

Ayesha Ahmed, Class of 2025, described her daily routine in a conversation with The Gazelle.

“After slogging for like 10 hours, or 8 hours, in the library, the only way, like the only possible way I can probably recharge myself is like go to [my friends’ dorm] where all those people are sitting, and literally just like sit back, enjoy and laugh at whatever they have to say,” shared Ahmed.

She explains how “this not only checks off the social battery rejuvenation box, it also checks off the laughter box.”

According to neuroscientists who study laughter, it turns out that chuckles and giggles often aren't a response to humor—they're a response to people. "Most of the laughter we produce is purely social," says neuroscientist Sophie Scott. "Laughter is a very good index of how we feel about the people that we're with."

Ahmed chose this “form of engagement” as she put it over, say, watching stand-up comedy to fulfill her daily dose of laughter. “Like many of us subscribe to forms of entertainment like okay let’s just watch a movie or you know, just like watch YouTube or something like that; After 10 hours of staring [at] a screen, do you think that same screen can provide you that same form of entertainment? That physical people can? Because you want to sort of disengage from that world. There is that need to disengage.”

Laughter is commonly known as the best medicine, and not only for its positive emotional effects. Studies have revealed that laughter can have significant impacts on physical health, such as reducing pain, enhancing cardiovascular health, and boosting the immune system. But what exactly is it about laughter that makes it such a potent tool for health and happiness?

When we laugh, our brains produce endorphins, feel-good chemicals that create a sense of well-being and alleviate pain. Laughter also releases other hormones, such as dopamine and oxytocin, that encourage social bonding and relaxation. The advantages of laughter are so powerful that some medical practitioners prescribe laughter therapy to patients suffering from chronic pain, depression, and anxiety.

One way laughter can improve physical health is by lessening pain perception. According to a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, humor can be an effective pain-relieving tool for patients with chronic illnesses or undergoing medical procedures.

Laughter has also been demonstrated to enhance cardiovascular health by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation. According to a study by the University of Maryland Medical Center, a good laugh can increase blood flow by up to 22%, enhancing overall cardiovascular health and decreasing the risk of heart disease.

Laughter can also boost the immune system by increasing antibody production and activating immune cells. A survey of Midwestern cancer patients shows that laughter can reduce stress and increase NK cell activity. As low NK cell activity is linked to decreased disease resistance and increased morbidity in individuals with cancer and HIV disease, laughter may be a useful cognitive-behavioral intervention.

Fortunately, you don't need a prescription to incorporate humor into your daily life. Here are some tips for finding more laughter in your day-to-day routine:

Surround yourself with humor: Whether it's through humorous friends or a comedy podcast, immersing yourself in humor can help you find laughter in everyday situations.

Don't take yourself too seriously: Sometimes the best way to find humor is by not taking yourself too seriously. Embrace your quirks and imperfections, and learn to laugh at yourself. The next time you send the wrong message to the wrong person, apologize, but later, let it become the joke of the day for you and your friends!

“You're stressed the whole day so you laugh about it and it really helps,” said Vanessa Medina, Class of 2025, “And like in those scenarios everyone also understands what you're going through so it's like an inside joke.”

Watch a funny movie or show: Laughter is contagious, and watching a funny movie or show can help you get in a more positive and lighthearted mood. (I recommend Schitt's Creek!)

Find joy in the little things: Laughter doesn't have to come from big jokes or elaborate pranks. Finding joy in the little things, like a silly meme, a playful pet, or even a mistake you made can help you find humor in everyday life.

While laughter is not a substitute for medical treatment, it can be a valuable tool for promoting physical health and well-being, or as Ahmed put it, “[It] might be the college student's cheap, cost-effective sort of a mid-ground solution to everything.”

The last friend I made was simply because we bonded over laughing at and over pulling an all-nighter to submit essays due in a few hours. For something with this many tangible and mental benefits, it is “very cost-effective in the sense that, if I ever go out to a mall its too time-consuming or if I play basketball there is a risk of being tired so laughter or engaging in social interaction provides the much-needed distraction without too much input from my side,” as Ahmed summarized it. Ake this as your sign to intentionally laugh a little more tomorrow; the absolute least you’ll do is make someone else laugh too!