Dedicating time to experience humorous things is undoubtedly good for you. It gives your mood a boost and, in turn, works wonders in many other areas. For example, one study found that watching a funny video can make you feel more energized and ready to tackle challenging tasks. Another study looked into how humor and laughter affect our short-term memory by studying elderly people’s responses to funny videos. The positive outcomes were undeniable.

Laughter in general is great for you, even without the humor in it. A study that looked into findings regarding genuine and simulated laughter found that the physical act of laughing on its own is good for you. It potentially makes chemical changes in the body that reduces stress and increases pain tolerance. “With no downsides, side-effects, or risks, perhaps it is time to consider laughter seriously.”

Steven M. Sultanoff, a clinical psychologist and professor at Pepperdine University has been studying the impact of humor on our lives for years. He thinks that it’s not only laughter that’s the best medicine. “My belief is that we are going to eventually discover that the most dramatic health benefits of humor are not in laughter, but in the cognitive and emotional management that humorous experiences provide. The experience of humor relieves emotional distress and assists in changing negative thinking patterns.”

If you’d like to find more humor in your everyday life, there are ways to invite it in. Determine what kind of humor you like and then try seeking it out. The easiest way to do that by following social media comedy accounts that you like or bookmarking your favorite jokes in a special folder on your phone. When unwinding in front of the TV, opt for a sitcom or a lighthearted movie instead of a tear-jerker. Choose a book that can make you laugh and try a comedy podcast once in a while. In general, make sure that the information you take in throughout the day has enough positivity in it to help you enjoy living.

However, don’t only rely on external fun to feed your brain positive emotions. According to Catherine Price, the author of “Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again,” phones, TV, and social media are all a form of “fake fun.” Instead, she suggests her own perfect recipe for true fun that she discovered after five years of researching what makes people most engaged in their lives. That is experiencing playfulness, connection, and flow. 

Playfulness is the lighthearted outlook at the world around you. Connection is the special feeling you get from shared experiences. Flow is feeling “in the zone” and not noticing the time go by. Separately, all of these “have been shown to improve people’s moods and mental health.” However, together, they are almost magical. “When people are having actual fun, they report feeling focused and present, free from anxiety and self-criticism. They laugh and feel connected, both to other people and to their authentic selves.”

To have more fun, Price suggests sitting down and analyzing what truly makes us feel good. “Think of times when you laughed with other people and felt completely engrossed in the experience. What were you doing? Who were you with? What made the experience feel so good?” This can be as small as playing with your dog or reading in the sun. 

Once you know what truly makes you feel good (not numb or mindless, like your phone can do sometimes), you can dedicate more time to that activity or those people. “Prioritizing fun may feel difficult, but it’s worth it. Our lives, after all, are defined by what we choose to pay attention to. The more you pay attention to fun and the energy it produces, the better you’ll feel.”

Of course, allocating time for pure fun is not always feasible. In those situations, try incorporating one of these three elements into your day. Get playful by wearing bright colors or fun patterns. Sultanoff even takes it to a new level by carrying a clown nose with him and popping it on whenever he feels like it. “My drivers license has me with my nose. At airports, ticket agents always smile at my ID. My watch runs backwards. You should see the smiles when I show it to others asking for the time. My car is equipped with bubbles which pass the time as I wait in a fast food drive-through.”

Try to see playfulness in the world around you, as well. Maybe you notice a funny sign, a quirky coincidence, or the beauty of nature. Also, see if you can add more flow into your day by experimenting with new hobbies. See if any of them make you feel like time’s flying by and stick with them. Allow yourself to connect with people around. Do this by calling your friends or relatives you might not spend too much time with or simply having small talk in the grocery store. Notice how all these little things make you feel.