The notion that laughter is the best medicine has probably existed for years but the first real proof surfaced in the 1970s when Norman Cousins, a writer and magazine editor of the popular Saturday Review, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. He believed that if stress could worsen his health, which was known at the time, than laughter could improve it. With the approval of his doctor he tested the theory on himself by prescribing funny videos and his disease went into remission. He wrote a paper about his experience that was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine as well a book, Anatomy of an Illness: A Patient’s Perspective, which became a best seller, and opened our eyes to the connection between laughter and wellness.

When it comes to getting enough sleep, I have to admit I struggle with my goal of getting eight hours a night. And according to the National Sleep Foundation, I’m in the majority – over 60% of Americans miss the mark. But I’m fully aware that making sleep a priority is one of the most important things I can do for my health, and I encourage my clients to do the same.