As college students in this tumultuous time, life may be feeling a little more rough than usual. This may not be the case for everyone, but I know many are going through it right now. Renavigating school, work and life is no easy task and can be tolling mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Not to mention the added stress and feelings of uneasiness that many students are facing right now as they try to plan for uncertain futures.

In the midst of rough times, we must remember to prioritize taking good care of ourselves and engaging in healing practices so that we do not wear ourselves out. Sometimes things are out of our control, and all we can do is make sure our loved ones, and ourselves, are accounted for. So today, we at the Clog choose to present you with two care and healing practices: smiling and laughing. Here are a few reasons why you should consider engaging in these practices more often.

They have a positive effect on your health and they’re free!

Smiling and laughing feel great when you fully indulge in the physicality of doing either or both. To be present while smiling and/or laughing may be one of the best things that life has to offer. In addition to smiling and laughing feeling viscerally good, they offer a lot of real health benefits too. Furthermore, smiling and laughing do not come at any monetary cost. They’re freely and readily available to you.

They can lift your mood

When you smile and laugh, you are releasing endorphins. When endorphins are released, there tends to be a reduction of pain in the body, alleviation of some stress and an improvement of the mood. With a mood boost tends to come a change in attitude, typically in a positive way.

They can change your attitude

A change in attitude has the potential to shift feelings of no motivation to feelings of optimism. This isn’t always the case, but as someone who loves to smile and laugh, I can attest that I feel a whole lot better when my cheeks become tight from a smile, and when I can hear the echo of my laugh. Sometimes I’m in a down mood and feeling like life is especially rough, but then I remind myself, or am reminded by the people closest to me, to smile and laugh.

They’re easily attainable

Life can be rough for all of us, this we know! But at the very least, we ought to remember that we always have strong medicine available to us so that we can get through the storm. Try it out if you haven’t in a while. Smiling and laughing may be the very remedy you’ve been looking for during these rough patches.

Sometimes life can be rough. No matter who you are or what you do, there are different periods in life that are difficult to move through, and there is no denying that. So, say cheese and laugh with the breeze to find a little more ease! We at the Clog are rooting for you!