Laughter is one of the most effective tools for stress relief. It lowers cortisol, boosts endorphins, and shifts your perspective—making life’s challenges easier to handle.
Laughter isn’t just a bonus—it’s one of the most effective tools for managing stress. There’s a reason you feel a weight lift after a good laugh: it’s biology at work. Laughter activates your brain’s relaxation mode by switching on the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body to let go of tension. And the best laughs—the ones that leave you gasping with friends—can’t be planned. But even intentionally making yourself laugh can release endorphins and shift your mood when you need it most.
Start by Laughing at Yourself
Self-deprecating humour is more than just poking fun at yourself—it’s a way to break down social barriers and show people you’re someone they can laugh with. Learning to laugh at your mistakes takes the pressure off and turns your missteps into stories worth telling.
Try This:
- The next time you mess up—like sending a text to the wrong group chat—think of how funny it’ll be to tell someone later. The awkwardness fades, and all you’re left with is a funny story.
- Instead of stewing over small mistakes, treat them as conversational gold. “Isn’t it funny when…”
1. Find Stress Relief in Life’s Absurd Moments
Some of life’s funniest moments come from things going wrong. Recognising the absurdity in frustrating situations makes them easier to handle. Laughter isn’t about denying stress—it’s about finding relief in the small, ridiculous moments.
Try This:
- If your morning is off to a rough start—like spilling coffee everywhere—pause and remind yourself: “This’ll make a great story later.”
- Stop aiming for perfection. Everyone makes silly mistakes—the key is whether you laugh about it or let it ruin your day.
- Living in constant stress quickly leads to burnout. Break the cycle with some laughs! Check out my tips on dealing with burnout if its something you’re going through.
2. Prime Your Mind to Notice What Makes You Laugh
While spontaneous laughter is great, you can create opportunities for humour by exposing yourself to things that make you more likely to laugh. Laughter is contagious, and starting your day with a smile primes your mind to notice funny moments more easily.
Try This:
- Keep a collection of funny shows, videos, or podcasts you know make you laugh. They’re your go-to when you need a pick-me-up.
- It’s okay to revisit old jokes or memes—sometimes the familiarity makes them even funnier.
3. Laugh with Others to Build Stronger Connections
Laughter isn’t just good for your mood—it’s social glue. It strengthens relationships and breaks tension by signalling safety and trust. Shared laughter reminds us that we’re not alone in the struggle.
Try This:
- Make time for the people who get your sense of humour. Even a quick chat can shift your day.
- At work or school, don’t hold back from light-hearted moments. A well-timed joke can make everyone feel more at ease.
4. Laugh at Your Mistakes and Move On
Perfectionism can make life feel heavy. Learning to laugh at your own mistakes allows you to let go of perfection and move on quickly. Mistakes don’t define you—they just make you more interesting.
Try This:
- Share your funniest failures with others. Self-deprecating humour builds trust and reminds everyone that nobody has it all figured out.
- Laugh, shrug, and carry on. Not every mistake needs a deep reflection.
5. Let Playfulness Be Part of Your Life
Playfulness isn’t just for kids—it’s a way to stay mentally agile and handle life’s challenges without getting overwhelmed. Evolutionary psychology tells us that play helps us practice resilience by tackling low-stakes problems in a fun way.
Try This:
- Find light-hearted moments in your day—send a playful message to a friend or laugh at a frustrating situation.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Life is already heavy—humour makes it easier to carry.
6. Give Laughter Yoga a Go (If That’s Your Thing)
I’ll admit—laughter yoga isn’t exactly my thing, but I know people who swear by it. It turns out, even fake laughter triggers the same feel-good chemicals as real laughter. Your brain can’t tell the difference.
Try This:
- If group activities are your thing, find a local laughter yoga class. Even if it’s not for you, it’ll make for a funny story.
- Or grab a friend and try laughing on purpose. It will feel awkward at first, but before you know it, you’ll both be laughing for real.
The Humor Habit: Rewire Your Brain to Stress Less, Laugh More, and Achieve More’er
by Paul Osincup gives great insights into just how powerful a sense of humour can be for you and your team and its all wrapped up in a really fun and easy read.
Final Thoughts: Laughter Is a Mindset
The best laughs are often the ones you don’t plan for. But by shifting your mindset and giving yourself permission to laugh—at yourself, with others, or at the absurdity of life—you’ll find stress feels lighter.
When things go wrong—and they will—try laughing instead of stressing. It’s not about pretending everything is fine, but about giving yourself permission to enjoy the ride.