Issue #157 Why 2yr-olds laugh 150x per day, and we don’t. 

Happy International Happiness Day!

Our 2 year-old granddaughter laughs a lot. As do most 2 year-olds, around 100 – 150 times per day. By the time we get to 15 years of age we have laugh around 30 – 50 times a day,  reducing to 10-20 times a day in our 50s.

As we age, we don’t necessarily lose our sense of humor; we lose our playfulness. For a 2 year-old, the world is a series of surprising accidents. For a 50 year old, the world is a series of expected routines. 

It’s not just about the laughs; there are profound health and wellness benefits to be gained from more joy in our lives!

Recent 2026 longitudinal studies have revealed that happiness acts as a buffer.against physical decline. Research from the Unicamp Journal shows that older adults who experience frequent joy yeilds a 60% lower risk of mortality compared to their less cheerful peers. Even when chronic conditions are present, happy individuals live, on average, a full year longer.

Why? It’s all in the chemistry. When you’re happy, your brain reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) and floods your system with endorphins and serotonin.

This doesn’t just feel good; it:

• Lowers blood pressure and heart rate.

• Boosts the immune system, making you more resilient to viruses.

• Reduces pain perception, acting as a natural analgesic.

The 2026 World Happiness Report has placed a massive spotlight on Social Connection. We now know that chronic loneliness is as damaging to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

But here’s the twist: connection doesn’t always have to be deep or heavy. Science now points to the power of micro-joys, those tiny, fleeting interactions with strangers or the weak ties in your life (like the barista who knows your order). These small sparks of belonging are enough to tell your nervous system that you are safe & you belong.

Boosting Your Joy 

Smile, even when you don’t feel like it
This can trick your brain into releasing happy hormones. Many days I literally smile at everyone I see walking down the street, in the shops, anywhere. Try it! It’s such fun! 

Play through conflict
Get out the old boardgames at home and lower the stakes of daily family stressors. Set up that gigantic jigsaw that takes a week to do on family holidays and let people come and go to the table to help and have a chat.

Smell joy
Our nose can remember over 50,000 scents. To instantly shift your mood, pick a specific happy scent (like fresh eucalyptus or citrus) and wear it during your favorite fitness or yoga class. Eventually, just the scent will trigger a fitness high.

Adopt a weekly digital sabbath
This year’s Happiness Day theme focuses on Caring and Sharing online. Whichever 1 in 7 days is your ‘sabbath’, instead of scrolling news etc, try sending three ‘gratitude’ voice notes to friends.

The verdict

Happiness is a practice, not a destination. 

And, as we all already know from lived experience, perhaps the greatest benefit of exercise – the one that gets us back day after day –  is the how good it makes us feel, within ourselves and about ourselves.

Here’s to living healthier, happier, longer!

See you again at Be Well soon.