Introducing humor and laughter into your evening routine is an opportunity to achieve more restful sleep. There are many ways to do this: watching a lighthearted TV show, reading a funny book, listening to a comedy podcast, or having a relaxing chat with an old friend. Each of these can be a fun and potentially effective way to improve not only your mood but also the quality of your sleep.
Why and How to Include Comedy in Your Evening Routine for Better Sleep
There are many ways to refresh your body and spirit through laughter just before falling asleep. Comedy is a genre that is fundamentally meant to entertain and to lift the burdens of everyday problems from the soul. It’s no coincidence that actors performing comedic roles in Ancient Greece wore smiling masks on stage. From then until today, comedy carries a light breeze of frivolity and fun in human existence. Here are some ways to integrate it into your daily life:
- Watch a funny show or movie: Choose a series, comedy program, or film with light, easygoing humor that suits your taste and temperament. These will certainly clear your system of negative experiences and improve your sleep. Avoid anything that might provoke intense emotions or excitement to prevent the opposite effect.
- Choose humorous reading material: Pick up a funny book, comic, or collection of jokes to read before bed. Preferably, consume this comedy material on paper rather than online to avoid straining your eyes before sleep.
- Listen to comedy podcasts: There are many podcasts featuring comedians discussing funny topics or sharing amusing personal stories. These can also be a great way to relax and unwind before sleep.
- Practice laughter yoga: Laughter yoga has become increasingly popular in recent years. It combines laughter exercises with deep breathing, which can further help you relax and release the stress accumulated during the day.
- Share a joke: If you have a spouse, partner, or roommate—someone you share your living space with—consider making a tradition of telling a funny story, joke, or brief humorous anecdote before bed. This will lighten the mood and help you fall asleep with a smile every night.
How Laughter and Comedy Help You Fall Asleep Faster
Laughter before bed, watching funny shows or comedies, can really have a positive effect on your ability to relax, fall asleep faster, and sleep more deeply. Here’s how it works:
- Reducing stress levels – Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, hormones that make you feel good. Endorphins promote an overall pleasant sense of lightness and happiness in the body. They also act as a natural painkiller. If you have mild or stronger pains that keep you awake, laughter can help relieve them. It will also lower stress hormones such as cortisol. Lower stress levels will, in turn, make relaxation and falling asleep easier.
- Muscle relaxation – When you laugh, you activate various muscle groups in your body. This muscle activity acts like a form of physical exercise, encouraging muscle relaxation afterward. Relaxed muscles contribute to a sense of comfort and ease, which will help you fall asleep more easily and quickly.
- Distracting from worries – Time spent on comedy and humor before sleep diverts your mind from worries or anxieties that might otherwise keep you awake all night. Shifting your focus away from stressful thoughts creates space for more pleasant emotions and calmer dreams.
- Releasing tension – Laughter can release physical tension and accumulated unused energy from the day. By releasing this tension, you prepare your body and mind for a comfortable and blissful rest.
Including laughter, humor, and comedy in your evening routine can be a fun and potentially effective way to improve your sleep quality. At TED, we encourage you—with the help of our products—to discover your personal comedy formula for complete relaxation. We are confident it will take you on the most captivating journeys through the depths of your dreams.