Humour Can Help You Thrive
Humour can help you thrive in change, remain creative under pressure, work more effectively, play more enthusiastically, and stay healthier in the process.’ C.W. Metcalfe, Author, Lighten Up
For some of us humour is a lost art, but it can be one of our most powerful ‘stress fighting’ tools. It has been proven that laughter reduces physical and emotional tension. Laughter produces endorphins, which are pain relievers and a good belly laugh can also stimulate your internal organs, circulation, and immune system. It is potent but not toxic, low-calorie, organic and absolutely free.
So Why don’t we use our humour more?
· Fear of embarrassment
· Fear of failure
Our fears result in a life of terminal seriousness.
Beverly’s Hot Tips For Increasing Your Sense Of Humour On National Joke Day:
1. The obvious – share a good joke with your family, friends and peers
2. Seek out funny friends and co-workers
3. Develop a Humour First-Aid Kit and fill it with your favourite jokes, clippings, and stories
4. Read the comics – Post cartoon of the week
5. Post a ‘insightful saying or blurt of the month’
6. Post a ‘Murphy’s Law of Our Workplace’
7. Buy fun desk toys
8. Watch or listen to funny programs and movies – liven up your commute
9. Initiate a ‘Happy Hour’ break at work (fun without the alcohol)
10. Use funny Post-It Notes
Smile More, Laugh Large – Fight ‘Terminal Seriousness’
Aha Jokes.com – Joke of the Day
A man walks into a bar one day and asks, “Does anyone here own that Rottweiler outside?”
“Yeah, I do!” a biker says, standing up. “What about it?”
“Well, I think my Chihuahua just killed him…”
“What are you talkin’ about?!” the biker says, disbelievingly. “How could your little runt kill my Rottweiler?”
“Well, it seems he got stuck in your dog’s throat!”
And One More For Fun…
Mrs. Peterson phoned the repairman because her dishwasher quit working. He couldn’t accommodate her with an “after-hours” appointment and since she had to go to work, she told him, “I’ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dish washer, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check. By the way, I have a large Rottweiler inside named Killer; he won’t bother you. I also have a parrot, and whatever you do, do not talk to the bird!”
Well, sure enough the dog, Killer, totally ignored the repairman, but the whole time he was there, the parrot cursed, yelled, screamed, and about drove him nuts. As he was ready to leave, he couldn’t resist saying, “You stupid bird, why don’t you shut up!”
To which the bird replied, “Killer, get him!!!”
Contact Beverly about hosting a mental health workshop for your teams on how to prevent burnout in the workplace and other mental health training. Discover tips to deal with stress, build resiliency, and encourage positive stress management techniques!
If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
Additional Resources:
- What Is Adaptability Quotient (AQ)? A Leadership System for Navigating Change
Humanizing Change: A Leadership Pathway for Supporting People Through Change
What Is the S-O-S Resilience Principle ™ – A Practical System for Managing Stress in Real Time
Leading Through the Chaos: Navigating Change with Confidence
Managing Complexity and Change: Lessons In How To Foster Resilience
- National Fun Day