Get some laughter in your day
Laughter is a great way for people, whether friends or strangers, to connect positively. It is also a great way to relax our muscles, reduce tension and change our mood. Laughter even improves emotional wellbeing and feelings of optimism, improves our memory and decreases the stress hormone, cortisol.
Actions – Individual
On the way to and from work
- Listen to a funny podcast on your commute
- Watch your favourite comedian or comedy show on YouTube
At your desk
- Decorate your work space with objects that remind you of fun experiences or memories
- Keep jokes at your desk to give yourself a break in between tasks
In meetings
- Incorporate playful elements in your presentations, where appropriate e.g. add humour or puns to titles
In your breaks
- Find 5 minutes to laugh each day, e.g. share a joke, funny YouTube video etc.
Set yourself up for success
- Find a way to laugh at yourself – a funny friend or colleague can help
- Make someone laugh or smile every day
Actions – Team
While working
- Try and inject some fun and humour into your work day or team meetings
- If a team member has a talent in making people laugh, try and leverage their strength
In breaks
- Send funny pics, memes or YouTube videos to colleagues you know will like them
- Work with your team to create bios with playful statements
- Create opportunities for staff to have breaks and release tension at stressful times of the year
Actions – Organisation
Set up the physical space
- Create a humour at work board that staff can pin funny announcements, quotes, photos and thoughts of the day
- Start a library of funny things that people can read or watch
- Create a humour first aid kit with funny props, funny costumes and books people can access when they need a break
Create opportunities for laughter
- Host a “watch party” over lunch where you can share in funny movies or clips together
- Hold a mini laughing yoga session
- Host regular activities, like trivia, to create a shared team experience and give everyone something to look forward to
Engage your staff
- Encourage managers and leaders to share funny stories with their team
- Give people permission to have more fun at work
- Brainstorm ideas to create a more fun work environment
- Create a “Humour at Work Team” to coordinate and implement fun ideas
Activity ideas
- Laughter Yoga for Mental Health – Action for Happiness
- Leading With Humor – Harvard Business Review
- Want To Innovate? Science Says, Be Playful! – The Creativity Post
Research
- A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away – PositivePsychology.com
- Benefits of Laughter – Laughter Online University
- How Humour Can Reduce Workplace Stress – Australian National University
- Seven Ways Laughter Can Improve Your Wellbeing – Stanford Medicine
- The Economics of Workplace Laughter, Boosts Morale, Positivity, Productivity – Laughter Online University
- The Surprising Ways Humor Can Improve Your Work Culture – Fast Company
- We Should Take Humour in the Workplace More Seriously – World Economic Forum
- Why Humor Works In Workplace Wellness Communications – Hope Health
- 10 Reasons Why Humor is a Key to Success at Work – Forbes
- 30 Benefits of Humor at Work – Humour That Works
Resources
- Humor in the Workplace Articles – Humor at Work
Downloadables
Click on each image and when it opens, right click and select ‘Save image as…’
A4 individual tip
eSignature
Please hyperlink it with https://workplaces.wayahead.org.au/workplace-stress-less-tips/
