Bring more laughter into your life

Turn off the news (at least for a while). The latest information about world events and the economy might make us better informed, but it isn't going to make us any healthier. While "lighten up" seems to be taboo advice these days it's exactly what we should be doing in tough times. A good laugh may just be the key to better stress management.

Why laugh? Experts who promote the healthy benefits of laughter liken it to mild exercise or an instant boost to the body as well as the mind. For example, laughter can:

- Stimulate your insides . When you laugh you draw more air into your body, meaning that your heart, lungs and muscles get a little boost from that extra oxygen. Laughing can even help digestion and promote good circulation.

- Promote a sense of well being. A good laugh revs up your body's stress response and triggers the release of endorphins (our body's "feel good" chemical).

- Protect against heart attack. A team of researchers at the University of Maryland found that laughter helps improve the function of blood vessels and increase blood flow -- thereby helping to counteract the harmful effects of stress.

- Decrease pain. All those endorphins that get released act as natural painkillers. Researchers have found that laughter can bring temporary pain relief.

- Improve immunity. There's a reason people say "laughter is the best medicine": it can actually improve your immune function and resistance to disease (which we're more susceptible to thanks to added stress).

Sometimes a good laugh finds us... but sometimes we have to help it along. Here are some ways to bring more laughter into your life:

Catch a funny flick

Sometimes pickings are slim at the theatres, but there's more than eighty years of comedy films to choose from on video or DVD. Classic comedy films get their status for a reason: their humour lasts through the generations.

If you're looking for a place to start, try the American Film Institute's Top 100 Funniest Movies. The list includes favourite titles from the 1920s through to the late 1990s, and includes titles like Some Like it Hot, Bringing up Baby, Broadcast News and City Slickers. (Download the full list and see the 500 top nominees here).

Another sure bet: Borrow a movie from a friend or family member who shares your sense of humour. For more help appeasing a tight entertainment budget, get to know the video and DVD section of your library too.

Tune in to your favourite sitcom

"Situation comedies" are a genre that's still going strong. However, you don't have to rely on your cable schedule to get a dose of humour. Set your VCR, PVR or DVD recorder to record your favourite shows and watch them on your own time -- without all the commercials.

In addition, many new and classic TV series are available on DVD. In addition to more recent hits like Friends and Frasier , you can also find fan favourites like M*A*S*H, Bewitched and I Love Lucy . Watch for Canadian content as well, like The Royal Canadian Air Farce, Little Mosque on the Prairie and Corner Gas . DVDs are also a good way to indulge a love of British comedies.