There’s plenty of stuff to smile at online, from chaotic cats to epic fails, and the occasional unhinged comment section. But with so much out there, it’s easy to miss the posts that actually feel worth your time.
Thankfully, one Instagram user known as The Funny Introvert has a knack for finding relatable, entertaining gems from around the internet. They’re not introvert-themed, but maybe being one just gives him more time to scroll.
Here’s a roundup of his best finds. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
#1
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#2
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#3
Image credits: _theblessedone
By the way, don’t underestimate how much smiling, or even better, laughing, can do for your wellbeing. Seriously.
We might not know exactly why laughter developed (though researchers think it helped early humans bond and survive as social groups), but we do know that it’s basically a superpower for your mental and physical health.
#4
Image credits: PATScoachjw
#5
Image credits: thetolerantweft
#6
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
Psychologically, laughter gives your mood an instant boost and helps melt away stress and anxiety.
On the physical side, it actually lowers cortisol (your stress hormone) and increases dopamine and serotonin, the chemicals that help you feel happy and calm.
In other words, laughing is genuinely good for you.
#7
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#8
Image credits: domluszczyszyn
#9
Image credits: cakesthebrain
And honestly, if you’re not making time to laugh or enjoy yourself in some way, you’re kind of short-changing your own brain.
“When you’re not regularly activating the pleasure/reward centers of the brain they go offline. So, in order to feel good, we have to practice feeling good. And laughing is one of the most cost-effective ways to do that,” says Natalie Dattilo, an instructor of psychology in Harvard Medical School’s Psychiatry Department.
#10
Image credits: ropermarisa
#11
Image credits: cottoncandaddy
#12
Image credits: _theblessedone
Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, I probably laugh enough. I see memes every day!”
But… not so fast. Hate to break it to you, but you might not be getting your full dose of giggles.
There’s no official laughter recommendation (yet), but here’s a stat for perspective: the average 4-year-old laughs around 300 times a day. The average 40-year-old? Just four.
Yikes. That’s not exactly what you’d call “thriving.”
#13
Image credits: katiemaryrich
#14
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#15
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
And considering that by 40 you’re entering the stage where your body starts sending you weird notifications (“your knee has expired,” anyone?), laughter starts looking even more like a smart health strategy.
Laughter releases nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, and helps prevent clotting, according to Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
And the science keeps backing it up: one long-term study in Japan found that older adults who laughed more often had a lower risk of serious heart issues. Another study in Norway even found that people with a strong sense of humor tend to live longer, especially women.
#16
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#17
Image credits: DrakeGatsby
#18
Image credits: david8hughes
If you’re having a hard time finding something to smile about (thanks, economy), try sharing a laugh with someone else. No, really, connection matters.
In 2004, Carl Marci, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, led a study looking at laughter not just in individuals but in pairs—specifically, psychiatrists and patients dealing with anxiety and depression. Despite the serious topics, they still managed to laugh about 15 times during each 50-minute session.
#19
Image credits: _theblessedone
#20
Image credits: TheRealMrTrees
#21
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
Patients laughed more than the psychiatrists, but here’s the kicker: even when only one person laughed, both showed increased nervous system activity. When they laughed together, the effect was even stronger.
The contagious laughter, Marci said, was a sign of emotional connection and validation—proof that sometimes laughter speaks louder than words.
#22
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#23
Image credits: _theblessedone
#24
Image credits: _theblessedone
So yeah, unless you’re doing it at a funeral or during a very serious Zoom meeting, there are pretty much no downsides to laughter. It’s free, it’s good for your brain and body, and it brings people closer.
So go on, find something funny, enjoy the moment, and maybe even pass it along. Your brain (and your blood pressure) will thank you.
#25
Image credits: lowkeyalbert
#26
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#27
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#28
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#29
Image credits: _theblessedone
#30
Image credits: whitepeoplehumor
#31
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#32
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#33
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#34
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#35
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#36
Image credits: _theblessedone
#37
Image credits: _theblessedone
#38
Image credits: whitepeoplehumor
#39
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#40
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#41
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#42
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#43
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#44
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#45
Image credits: holy_schnitt
#46
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#47
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#48
Image credits: _theblessedone
#49
Image credits: _theblessedone
#50
Image credits: iacobeats
#51
Image credits: pjayevans
#52
Image credits: floridaman
#53
Image credits: _theblessedone
#54
Image credits: _theblessedone
#55
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#56
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#57
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#58
Image credits: KevinFarzad
#59
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#60
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#61
Image credits: whitepeoplehumor
#62
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#63
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#64
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#65
Image credits: _theblessedone
#66
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#67
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
#68
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#69
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#70
Image credits: thefunnyintrovert
