Discovery Village communities are great places to call home, should you want to enjoy plenty of cheer in your life. If you have wondered more than once whether you could develop a more keen sense of humor so that you could laugh more often, the good news is that you can. In this third and final segment about laughter, learn strategies for improving your sense of humor and tips for injecting more humor into your life.
Tips for a Better Sense of Humor
When others are laughing about something funny, do you often find yourself stone-faced? Not everyone finds the same things humorous, but the issue could be that you really do need to loosen up and be more ready to laugh. The following are some tips for improving your sense of humor:
- Smile and be friendly. The groundwork for laughter is a dropping of our guards and willingness to let it spill out. Instead of being uptight and hyper-focused on struggles or tasks you need to accomplish, open yourself up to be friendly and to focus on the people in your life, both at home and at work. Taking on an informal approach to your interactions with others cracks open the door for laughter.
- Avoid negativity and arguments. Perhaps you are one of the millions of people who have fallen into the trap of constantly debating in various social media settings. What does all of that energy really accomplish? Don’t sacrifice laughter because of a cause. In a very real sense, laughter is one of the best parts of what is good about life. Fight the battles you were meant to fight but be sure you laugh along the way.
- Routinely take the time to simply relax and unwind. Turn off the television, put away the computer, and spend at least one hour a day simply relaxing. You can enhance the experience with a soak in a warm tub or perhaps the enjoyment of a mellow book. You’ll be more ready to enjoy humor by routinely shutting off your engine.
- Be on the lookout for opportunities to laugh. Your 43 facial muscles need the engagement they all get only when you laugh. You never know when someone or something you watch or read is going to surprise you with humor, and you don’t want to miss the fun of it.
- Be ready to laugh about your anxieties. The top sources of anxiety people have are death and illness. An excellent way to deal with the things that worry or upset you is to laugh about them. Editor Bob Mankoff of the New Yorker has found that death is a popular character in comedy skits, cartoons, and jokes. He says, “The Grim Reaper’s gonna get the last laugh; until then, it’s our turn.”
- Spend time with playful, fun people. If you’re always around serious-minded people, chances are that you don’t share enough laughter in your life. Try to make some new connections, and even seek out people who laugh frequently.
- Avoid defensiveness. When you’re defensive, it puts up walls and squelches laughter. If you find yourself in that mindset, switch your focus to something joyful. Laughter will actually help you let go of doubts, criticisms, and judgments.
- Allow yourself to be vulnerable. As mentioned before, laughter is a brave act because it exposes a part of your true self. Blocking vulnerability is tantamount to numbing or walling away the laughter response.
- Emulate the carefree attitudes of children. Whether your own grandchildren or children playing at a park, observe children for a while and see how easily they laugh as they play. Allow yourself to recall the joys of your own childhood, and reconnect with your inner child.
9 Things to Do to Laugh More
No need to just wait around for something funny to happen, if you need a good laugh and the benefits that go with it. Go after laughter! Immerse yourself in humor. The following are a few ideas on creating opportunities for laughter:
- Share a funny story or joke with a friend.
- Watch comedy movies and television shows.
- Play with a lively pet.
- Be silly with children.
- Schedule fun activities in your life, such as karaoke or miniature golf.
- Ready funny books.
- Read the funny pages in the newspaper.
- Visit a comedy club.
- Laugh at yourself often.
What will you do today to increase your laughter? At Discovery Village retirement communities, you can schedule a ride to a stand-up comedy event or to whatever destination you need. Why not think up a good joke to share with the driver on the way? Or try this one. Bob Hope said, “I grew up with six brothers. That’s how I learned how to dance – waiting for the bathroom.”
Discovery Village At The Forum offers a variety of senior living programs to keep seniors healthy and active. Learn about our senior living options and amenities today when you contact us at 239.219.1700.
