Did you know that:
The average four-year-old laughs up to 300 times a day?
And. in contrast:
The average 40-year-old only laughs about three times per day?
That’s no laughing matter because not only is laughter good for us, but positive, healthy humor in the workplace contributes to:
- Creating a lighter mood
- Reducing stress
- Faster interpersonal bonding
- A greater sense of belonging
- Better perceived leader performance
- Overall workplace cohesion
- Improved mental health
- Closer relationships
- Reduced inhibitions
- More happily resolved disagreements
While put downs, zingers, dings and gotchas have no place in a healthy workplace, positive humor that doesn’t snipe at or demean people is clearly beneficial! Here are five things every one of us can do to foster a “good humor” culture:
Accept Personal Accountability
Remind yourself that how you use humor is a choice. Every moment of humor can be so appropriate that your coworker wants to have another laugh with you. Okay, so that sounds a little kooky, but the intention is pure. Give it a try – hold yourself accountable by asking yourself if your joke is in good humor or not.
Keep Smiling
Elizabeth Scott, M.S., reinforces the fact that smiling is its own reward. Because it helps to release endorphins, it “…can lead you to actually feeling more happy (rather than just looking more happy). If you are able to put a smile on your face, the laughter will come more easily and the stress will melt more readily.” I’ve been practicing this for a while, especially during life’s rough spots. For me, it works.
Seek Out the Positive
It’s always there, but you may have to look a bit. Tooling down the highway one afternoon, the pickup truck ahead of me slowed to a near stop, then made an arc to the left. As I proceeded cautiously, I felt the pure exhilaration of watching a mama duck cross the road with eight(!) tiny ducklings waddling in lockstep behind her. Yes, I have been talking about it ever since because I can’t stop smiling – and laughing to myself – whenever that beautiful, silly, iconic image comes to mind.
Reframe Your Rants
Many psychologists recommend reframing or thinking differently about the things that are out of our control, the ones that bug us. Some specifically suggest that we see the humor in them. Now, this may take some serious “reframing” if your tendency is to fume. I’ve learned to shrug my shoulders and marvel at the fact that nine out of 10 times, I will end up in the loooooongest line at the checkout. Regardless of my line hopping, it’s futile; I do it anyway. And, I end up thinking, ironically, how funny is this?
Develop a Radar for Good Humor
Share jokes and spontaneous joy that provide you with an opportunity to laugh with others and not at them. I walked into a Dunkin’ Donuts the other day while en route to an appointment that weighed heavily on me. The server behind the counter was doing this joyful little dance that caught my eye and moved my soul, just when I really needed it. Because somewhere along the way, I stopped worrying about looking the fool; I spontaneously joined in from my side of the counter. We both laughed hysterically. Dancing in DD on a Thursday afternoon, are you serious? I was being silly. And, why not?
Good humor is available to all of us if we look for it and seek to create it. Remember that laughter is good for you. It reduces your stress and improves your outlook. And, when we share good humor with the people around us, laughter does even more – it connects us to one another. That’s priceless.
