Forced Family Fun & The Power of Laughter

Can laughter really be medicine for the mind?

I remember reading years ago that a small child laughs between 300 and 400 times a day, while adults laugh only about 20 times a day. Can that really be true?

Google says yes.

Before I go any further, I am not trying to oversimplify mental health concerns or dismiss the importance of diagnosis and treatment. I'm a therapist, after all. What I do want to share is a personal experience and how laughter can positively impact our brains and overall well-being.

Forced Family Fun.

That's what we've called our family outings since my boys became teenagers.

The phrase set the tone and the expectations. They would have rather been with their friends, and we were parents trying to hold on to every moment we could as we navigated a new season of parenting. Looking back, I'm glad we did.

Life in the Anderson home this summer has felt like a revolving door. Our oldest recently graduated from college and moved home—though only for a short time. Our youngest is between apartments before beginning his senior year of college. Weekends have been filled with graduations, packing, moving, and a garage that seems permanently overcrowded.

Sore backs, stiff joints, and a general feeling of being "out of sorts" have become our family's normal lately.

Months before this season of chaos arrived, we planned a weekend of Forced Family Fun and booked a trip to Savannah to see comedian Nate Bargatze. In my mind, I was already doing the math: four-plus hours in the car round trip, several meals together, and an event that all four of us genuinely wanted to attend.

A win all around.

The show did not disappoint.

For nearly two and a half hours, we laughed almost nonstop. There were moments when tears streamed down our faces as we listened to Nate and the opening performers. It was one of those rare experiences where everyone in the room seemed united by the simple act of laughing together. 

Which brings me back to my original question.

Why do adults laugh so much less?

Is it the stress we carry around in our emotional backpacks? Are we taking ourselves too seriously? Or are we simply overwhelmed by the weight of everyday responsibilities?

Many adults are carrying heavy loads. We worry about our children, aging parents, careers, finances, relationships, and our own health and well-being. Sometimes the weight of those responsibilities leaves little room for joy.

But the research is clear: laughter is a powerful therapeutic tool.

Studies have found that laughter can reduce stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine, increase feel-good chemicals like endorphins, improve blood flow, and even strengthen immune functioning. Regular humor and laughter have been linked to improved cardiovascular health, stronger social connections, and greater emotional resilience. 

In other words, laughter isn't just fun—it's good for us.

I felt lighter after the show.

My mind seemed quieter. I found myself fully present in the moment rather than thinking about the next thing on my to-do list. We spent the rest of the evening recapping our favorite comedy bits, debating which jokes were the funniest, and maybe even staying up a little too late while our boys enthusiastically karaoke-sang the perfect song for our season of life: Under Pressure.

The next morning, our circumstances hadn't changed. There were still boxes to unpack, decisions to make, and responsibilities waiting for us at home.

But something had shifted.

For a few hours, we traded stress for connection. We exchanged worry for laughter. We made memories that will likely outlast all the things currently competing for our attention.

Maybe that's the real medicine. Intentionality of finding joy/humor in life. 

Not that laughter eliminates life's challenges, but that it gives us a break from carrying them. It reminds us to be present, to connect with the people we love, and to find joy even in the middle of busy and complicated seasons.

My challenge for us:

Find something that makes you laugh this week. Watch a comedian. Spend time with people who make you smile. Rewatch a funny movie. Share a story that still makes you laugh years later.

Your mind, body, and heart may thank you for it.

After the Nate Bargatze Show, retelling favorite jokes.

Always laughing, 2011