Remarkably little interest has been paid to yawning in research, even though it is an everyday phenomenon (** find Sharat Gupta / Shallu Mittal/ Robert R Provine / Oliver Walusinski for research papers on yawning).

In 1986, Provine, the pioneer of yawning research wrote that “Yawning may have the dubious distinction of being the least understood, common human behavior.” Today, more than 20 years later, this may well still be the scenario as we are yet to find a definitive solution to this age old conundrum.

Yawning research is intriguing because it is not a learnt behaviour, as even a 20 week old human fetus has been seen to yawn.

Suggesting that it is merely an act of boredom and drowsiness is unjustified and that it may have a definitive underlying physiological importance feels like it really needs to be meticulously explored.

In the meantime, as we endeavor to find funds to research such a study, would you help us bring The Great Big Yawn to your loved ones attention.

Helping people feel safe enough to complete their yawn could actually be helping them relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, tinnitus, chronic pain, internal chatter and so much more.

And please do monitor your yawns and tell us if it is making a difference to your every day lives. By switching the paradigm of yawning from negative to positive does it have an effect on how you feel?

We are already seeing positive effects of encouraging people to stop stifling their yawns. It's making people think about 'If your stifling your yawns what else have you been stifling in your life?'

Today dig deep and be the Biggest Yawner in the room and when you find yourself doing it play with how it feels once completed. Then dig deep and if you can pop a £1 in for every BIG yawn you complete in a day and play along with your team to see who has the biggest yawns, stretchiest yawn, noisiest yawn, longest yawns! Ih so much fun to be had here.

Tag us on social media today! #tgby #yawning