Simple Strategies to Foster Good Humour!

Amy Taylor April 02, 2013

If you are feeling sad, depressed, and all – practising a good sense of humour may just be the trick.

People with depression are encouraged to undergo cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This complementary treatment involves changing your perceptions or point of views for the better. Alongside CBT, there are some other ways to improve your view of life – and humour could be the most enjoyable and sometimes the easiest strategy!

Imploring humour during difficult situations can help you manage your emotions and reduce those that negatively affect your health. Nevertheless, practising humour doesn’t have to hurt somebody’s feelings or make you feel guilty for doing it afterwards. So how do you promote good humour?

Smile.

Even if you don’t have any reason to, just smile! You’ll be surprised of how even a ‘forced’ smile can enhance your mood.

Imagine the worst.

If for example you are asked to give a speech to a large audience and you feel afraid, tensed, whatsoever, try to imagine yourself being in the worst situation. Deliberately imagine a worse situation where you are sweating like a fountain. As you go back to the reality, you will realise it’s really not that bad as you thought it was.

Laugh at your behaviour and beliefs.

Being too ‘serious’ can prevent you from enjoying life. Learn how to see life not as a distraught, tragic and melancholic drama but a romantic comedy that does have ups and downs. Laugh at your own silliness, but never at yourself. Laugh on your flaws the way Mr Bean would in his actions.

Get silly!

Never let a day pass without smiling. If you can, don’t just smile but laugh out loud! Wear something silly, do something you’ve never done before like leading a mob dance, putting on a green lipstick, or spoofing your favourite celebrity!

Remember, everyone else is nude under their clothes.

Sometimes, we easily get intimated by the presence of others. Whenever you feel this way, take a walk down the street and remember that all of them are nude under their clothes. This reduces your fear and frustration. It’s like accepting the fact that everyone has flaws, needs and disappointments in life. It’s not you alone who is suffering from a depressive state of mind.

Make someone laugh.

Crack a joke, make some funny facial expressions, or do something silly that could make your peers laugh. Being able to make someone smile can have a huge impact on your well-being and mental health.

Develop a silly routine you can practise whenever you feel bad.

Find a silly, awkward thing to do when you’re confronted with a difficult situation – like a stress relief. For instance, if you feel depressed, get your camera and take photos of your ‘wackiest’ facial expressions and poses!

Create a humorous environment.

Your environment can totally affect your mood. If you want to keep in touch with positive humour, try decorating your room with funny stuffs. Maybe you can place a bulletin that has funny pictures, signs and some of your favourite jokes.  

Be your friends’ number one ‘joker’.

Experiment on jokes. Try to learn one good joke every week and be the first among your friends to crack it! It will not just make you feel better, but can definitely improve your social ties and relationships.

Find humour in yourself.

Be your own critic in a humorous way. So what if you have less hair? At least you could save money on shampoos! So what if you’re chubby? That means you’re too wealthy to buy the foods you want!

 

Laughter can often be the best medicine. So take time to laugh. After all, it’s for free!