Don’t laugh this off! Too many workplaces suffer from a lack of employee engagement in their wellness programs because they do not take a “whole person” approach to promoting a healthy lifestyle. Activities that promote physical activity and healthy eating are the most popular. However, employees who are over-stressed, financially burdened and increasingly sedentary need more. They need to be engaged body, mind and soul.
WELL Street’s LAUGH OUT LOUD Challenge is a workplace wellness activity that provides “whole” person benefits like these:
- Stimulates heart, lungs and muscles, and increases endorphins that are released by the brain and lead to improved mood
- Reduces stress hormone levels and creates a sense of relaxation
- Dulls physical pain and strengthens the immune system
- Increases happiness and, when shared with others, strengthens relationships
- Improves workplace morale
Reader’s Digest (Stealth Health) suggests that, “Little can compare to the feeling of a deep, complete, heartfelt laughing spell. No matter your age, wealth, race, or living situation, life is good when laughter is frequent. Life is also healthier. Research finds that humor can help you cope better with pain, enhance your immune system, reduce stress, even help you live longer. Laughter, doctors and psychologists agree, is an essential component of a healthy, happy life.”
LAUGH OUT LOUD encourages people to make time to laugh and enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits that laughter provides. Employees participate by spending time engaged in activities that engender laughter. It should never come at the expense of someone else, or be offensive to anyone in the workplace. Activities that provide opportunities for laughter might include:
- Reading comics or a humorous book
- Playing a board game or charades with friends
- Playing with children
- Sharing jokes or funny stories with others
- Playing with a pet
- Enjoying the company of humorous people
- Watching funny TV shows, movies or YouTube clips
Participants can earn 3 points each day that they purposefully spend a minimum of 15 minutes in an activity that provides the potential for laughter. Points, either “0” or “3”, should be recorded each day. At the end of the Challenge, award incentives for points earned or hold a drawing for prizes at different achievement levels.
Measure Success
- What percentage of employees participated?
- Were positive experiences reported by participants?
- Was morale in the workplace, or in particular people, noticeably improved?
- Would the majority of people want to do the Challenge again in the future?
- helpguide.org – “Laughter is the Best Medicine”
- MayoClinic.com – “Stress relief from Laughter? Yes, no joke.”
- psychologytoday.com – “The Benefits of Laughter”
- Reader’s Digest (Stealth Health) / rd.com – “19 Ways to Enhance Your Sense of Humor”
- webMD.com – “Give Your Body a Boost – With Laughter”, “Cut Stress by Anticipating Laughter”
Start 2012 with a big smile! Share this blog with the person responsible for wellness at your workplace. Ask them to consider doing the LAUGH OUT LOUD Challenge for one week. Employees will appreciate the focus on improving their individual well-being. It will lead to greater participation in the company’s wellness program and generate additional ideas of how to have fun while becoming happier and healthier.
Laugh Out Loud in 2012!
M. J.
The complete, 7-page, LAUGH OUT LOUD Challenge Pack can be downloaded for only $.99. It includes:
- Complete Challenge Details
- Printable Group Tracking Scoreboard
- Individual Tracking Scorecard
- Full-Color Certificates of Achievement
- Employee Survey Form
Comments