“8 Ways to Incorporate Humor Into Your Daily Life”

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If you think there isn’t any humor in your life, think again. There is humor in everything.

Clinical psychologist and Pepperdine University professor Steven M. Sultanoff says that one of the easiest and fastest methods to improve your general health and well-being is to add more comedy into your everyday routine. Sultanoff, who served as president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic comedy in the past, has studied the positive effects of comedy for more than 40 years. He is not the light of the party or the class clown, but he does underline that comedy and painful feelings have no place in the same psychic space.

Including comedy in your life has a lot of benefits. According to research, humor improves mood, lowers stress, strengthens the immune system, increases energy, and improves cognitive performance. These advantages are not limited to those who laugh; they can also be experienced without laughing, as laughter is the physical expression of humor. Laughing can help you think more clearly and open your eyes to new ideas. Moreover, it promotes “relational fusion,” which Sultanoff defines as the ties that bind people together via shared laughter. He says, “You connect with someone when you experience humor together.” “This connection promotes a feeling of comfort and relaxation.”

Because comedy has so many positive effects, we spoke with Sultanoff and other professionals to find out their best tips for making your days happier.

Avoid Pressuring It
Permitting yourself to unwind is important because trying too hard to be humorous can backfire. According to Nichols, “you’ll awaken that part of your brain by regularly exposing yourself to humor.” “Consider your sense of humor as a muscle that you can strengthen with continued use.

Find Out What Laughs You Out
Everyone has various tastes in humor, which is just like music. Consider the comedic genres that speak to you, and make a point of watching them often. See comedic performances, surround yourself with humorous people, and watch a humorous film rather than the depressing drama you usually select. Moreover, social media can be a fantastic resource. Make a funny meme or video folder on TikTok or Instagram that you can access whenever you need a boost.

Look for One Silly Item Every Day
Unless we deliberately seek out humor, we frequently fail to notice it when it is there around us. Make it a daily goal to discover at least one amusing or smiling thing. Allen Klein, the author of The Healing Power of Humor, advises telling yourself, “Today, I’m going to find something funny,” as soon as you get up. You may be shocked at how much humor you come across in a typical day.

Relive the Funny Moments You Love Most
Think back to three occasions when you laughed so hard you nearly passed out. You may practice meditation by visualizing these events, and it’s a simple approach to improve your mood at any time, anyplace.

Enroll in a Comedy Course
After graduating from college, Nichols enrolled in improv workshops to rekindle her creative flame. Recalling how much fun it was to draw hilarious pictures with pals, she decided to look into local improv classes on Google. She discovered improv at an open house and finally made the switch to stand-up comedy. She argues, “You don’t have to be funny to join a comedy class.” “Irrespective of your innate ability for humor, the experience will foster your creative imagination.”

Develop Your Quick-Wittedness Sultanoff frequently uses humor in his psychotherapy sessions. He remembers a client who obsessively thought about a stylist’s remark about his child. Sultanoff pushed him to think of a clever retort he could have used in its place. The client had a hilarious and insightful remark that really helped him change his viewpoint. Sultanoff suggests, “Try this exercise after awkward situations: brainstorm witty comebacks to help you react with humor in real-time.”

Get Good at Just One Joke
It’s in our nature to make other people laugh, and being funny doesn’t need special talent. Sultanoff says, “Learn one simple, effective joke.” Try it out and apply it anytime you want to lighten the situation.

Make Use of Props
Klein is wearing a bright red clown nose, so you could recognize him if you ever find yourself stuck in traffic with him. He remarks, “The world is pretty serious these days.” “You can instantly lighten the atmosphere by donning a clown nose.” Every time they fight, a couple he knows puts on clown faces to defuse the situation quickly. Sultanoff also likes to use props to make others happy. For example, he likes to tell the technician he feels radiant after slipping on glowing red thumb lights following an X-ray. He explains, “This creates a joyful moment that we will both remember.”