Reclaim Your Joy, Rewire Your Brain
| with guest Dr Jaime Raygoza |
Productivity doesn’t always start with planning. Sometimes, it starts with laughing. Jaime reminds us that joy and wellness are not luxuries, they’re tools, especially for ADHD brains wired for intensity and emotional sensitivity.
His key strategy? Laughter Yoga: a playful, science-backed technique that combines intentional laughter with breathwork to reset your nervous system and spark dopamine.
“We forget to have fun. Laughter yoga helps reintroduce play, reduce stress, and regulate the nervous system. It’s like giving your brain a joyful reset.”
Why This Strategy Matters
For ADHDers, burnout is all too common. Many of us push hard, go all in, and then crash. Stress builds, joy drains, and executive function shuts down.
Laughter yoga disrupts this pattern. It gives you a fast, accessible way to:
- Boost dopamine without medication
- Interrupt overwhelm with play
- Reconnect with your body through breath and movement
- Break emotional spirals that lead to shutdown
When to Use This Strategy
Laughter yoga is especially powerful when:
- You’re feeling overstimulated, anxious, or frazzled
- You’re heading into (or recovering from) a stressful work meeting
- You’ve been stuck in a spiral of seriousness, overthinking, or emotional shutdown
- You’re craving a quick way to reset without relying on screens or caffeine
How to Practice It Daily
You don’t need a class or group, just a little willingness. Try one of these:
- Counting Laughter: Laugh once, then twice, building up to ten. It feels silly. That’s the point.
- Box Breathing with Laughter: Inhale slowly. Exhale with a laugh. Repeat for 30 seconds.
- Solo Sessions: Step outside or into your car. Laugh freely for a few minutes. Let the reset happen.
- Laughter Breaks with Others: Invite a friend or coworker to laugh with you. It’s contagious.
The Science Behind It
Laughter isn’t just fun, it is neurologically powerful. Studies show:
- Laughter reduces cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In multiple studies, spontaneous laughter was shown to reduce cortisol levels significantly. PMC Study, 2023
- It increases pain tolerance by stimulating the release of endorphins. Shared social laughter activates the brain’s opioid systems. Royal Society Study, 2011
- Even the anticipation of laughter can reduce stress hormone levels and improve mood. ScienceDaily Article on Anticipation, 2008
- Laughter supports cardiovascular and brain health, improves immune function, and reduces emotional reactivity. Journal of Physiology Review, 2017
In short: laughter is not procrastination or avoidance. It is a nervous system strategy.
💬 Final Thought
Jaime shows us that emotional regulation doesn’t have to be clinical or complicated. Sometimes, your best stress relief is already inside you: breath, joy, and the ability to laugh at life and yourself.
So next time you feel stuck, try smiling, then laughing for no reason at all. Your brain might just thank you for it.