Benefits of Laughter for Wellbeing: How Small Funny Moments Can Help You Cope

(MISSION. CONNECTION.)

Guest blog by Sam’s mum (84, post-op, and still hilarious) - benefits of laughter for wellbeing

I had minor eye surgery recently. Minor, they said. Quick, they said. You’ll be fine, they said.

And, to be fair, I was fine.

Until I got into my daughter’s car.

It was proper winter dark. Raining, of course. One of those damp evenings where the sky feels like it’s sitting on your head. My vision was still a little… soft-focus. As though life had been edited through a romantic film filter, except nobody had asked me first.

I climbed into the passenger seat and looked towards the middle console.

And there it was.

A bright yellow thing. Big. Dramatic. Spiky. Like some sort of sea creature had booked an Uber and decided to ride shotgun.

I froze.

My brain, doing its absolute best with limited information, said:

Is that… a giant anemone?

In my daughter’s car.

In Sussex.

In January.

At night.

Reader, I lost it.

I started laughing so hard I could barely breathe. Not polite laughter. Not a gentle little chuckle. Full-body, shoulders-shaking, wheezing laughter. The sort that turns you into a human accordion.

My daughter looked at me as if I’d finally cracked, which, frankly, was fair.

Then she started laughing too. Because laughter is rude like that. It doesn’t ask permission. It just grabs the moment by the collar and says, “Right then, we’re doing this now.”

We sat there for a good five minutes, laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Two grown women. One car. One imaginary sea anemone.

Eventually, I managed to speak.

“It looked like an anemone,” I gasped.

And then she showed me what it actually was: a window-cleaning thing with thick tassels for the windscreen when it steams up. Very practical. Very ordinary. Absolutely not marine life.

But by then it was too late.

My brain had committed to the storyline. It was an anemone, and I would not be taking feedback at that time.

Now, my daughter sends me a picture of “the anemone” in the mornings, and I laugh all over again. Every single time. Like a fool. Like a child. Like someone who hasn’t forgotten how to play.

And really, that’s the point of this blog.

Well, that and the fact I occasionally spray coffee all over myself when I see it.

Why laughter matters more than we think

I didn’t set out to build a wellbeing routine. I more or less stumbled into one.

I also keep a birthday card by my bed from my children. It has a kitten on the front looking as though it’s laughing uncontrollably. The message says:

For a fab mum, I’m smiling because you’re my mum…

…and inside:

…and laughing because there’s nothing you can do about it.

I don’t know what it is about that kitten, but it gets me every morning.

Sometimes it’s a proper laugh. Sometimes just a grin. Sometimes a little snort. But it lifts me. Like opening a window in a stuffy room.

My daughter Sam runs a coaching business with her team, and they talk about clarity, courage and connection. Very noble things. Very needed, especially when life feels heavy.

And I’m here to tell you that laughter belongs in all three.

The benefits of laughter for wellbeing

Clarity

When you laugh, your mind stops chasing its tail for a moment. The mental noise softens. Everything feels a little less tangled.

Courage

Laughter does not remove hardship, and it does not magically fix what is difficult. What it does do is give you a breather, which can be enough to help you face things without crumpling.

Connection

Shared laughter brings people back to each other quickly. No long speeches. No perfect words. Just one ridiculous moment and suddenly you feel less alone.

Can laughter really support wellbeing?

It may feel small, but laughter can have a real effect on how we feel.

A genuine laugh can help release tension, interrupt stress and give both body and mind a moment to reset. It is not about pretending everything is fine or forcing cheerfulness when life is hard. It is about allowing a little lightness in, even when things are not perfect.

That matters.

Because sometimes a tiny moment of joy is enough to remind your nervous system that you are safe enough, calm enough, and steady enough to keep going.

A simple morning wellbeing habit

So here is my tiny, slightly bossy invitation to you:

Put something near your bed that makes you smile.

A photo.

A silly card.

A ridiculous object you once mistook for ocean wildlife.

Then look at it first thing in the morning.

Not to deny reality.

Not to force “positive vibes only”.

Absolutely not.

Just to remind yourself that joy is still allowed.

Because if an 84-year-old woman with blurry post-op eyes can discover an anemone in a car and laugh like a teenager, you can probably find your own version too.

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Need a Bit More Lightness in Life?

When life feels heavy, laughter can seem like a small thing. But sometimes one small moment of joy is enough to help you breathe, reset and feel a little more like yourself again. At ACSIS Life Coaching, we help you reconnect with the benefits of laughter for wellbeing.

At ACSIS Life Coaching, Sam and Lloyd offer a calm, supportive space to help you find clarity, rebuild confidence and reconnect with what keeps you steady — whether that is resilience, purpose, connection, or simply learning how to let more lightness in.

👉 Book a FREE Clarity Session with ACSIS Life Coaching

Book a Free Clarity Session

👉 Visit acsis.co.uk or email contact@acsis.co.uk

Contact ACSIS Life Coaching

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What makes you laugh when life feels heavy?

What is the one ridiculous thing that reliably makes you laugh, even when life is being extremely… life?

Sometimes those tiny moments are not silly at all.

Sometimes they are the very things that help us cope.

FAQs About the Benefits of Laughter for Wellbeing

1. What are the benefits of laughter for wellbeing?

Laughter can help release tension, interrupt stress, and give your mind a brief pause from overthinking. It does not solve everything, but it can create a small pocket of relief when life feels heavy.

2. Can laughter really help when I am stressed?

Yes. A genuine laugh can give your body and mind a moment to reset. It can soften the pressure, help you breathe, and remind your nervous system that you are safe enough to keep going.

3. Is laughter a real wellbeing habit?

It can be. A simple daily reminder, such as a funny photo, card, or object near your bed, can help you start the day with a little more lightness. It is not about forcing positivity, it is about making room for joy.

4. How does laughter help with connection?

Shared laughter can bring people closer without needing perfect words. One silly moment can cut through tension, create warmth, and remind you that you are not carrying everything alone.

5. How can I bring more laughter into my life?

Start with something small and real. Keep a funny card nearby, save a photo that makes you smile, or notice the ridiculous moments that already happen in daily life. Laughter often works best when it is unplanned, ordinary, and shared.