Ever have a day when everything seems to be going wrong? The coffee spills. You send an email to the wrong person. School calls and you need to rush there.
Moments like these can feel frustrating in real time, but humor can be a powerful way to shift perspective.
Humor is not just about being funny; it is a psychological skill that supports emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and stress reduction. When used intentionally, humor creates a healthy distance from distress, helps reframe challenges, and strengthens resilience without minimizing real feelings. By gently shifting perspective and allowing moments of playfulness, you can reduce the intensity of stress while maintaining accountability and emotional honesty.
Like any coping strategy, humor works best when practiced consistently and used in ways that are inclusive, self-compassionate, and grounded.
Try This:
1. Give a frustrating moment a sitcom-style title
“Today’s episode: When Coffee Fights Back”
2. Replace harsh self-talk with playful language
“Let’s just say that was a bold creative choice.”
3. Practice mild exaggeration in your internal narration
“I have survived one thousand and 7 emails and it is only 9:12am.”
4. Revisit a stressful event later and look for the irony or absurdity once the emotional intensity has decreased
“That was intense, but I got through it. Now, it’s actually just a really good story.”
5. Keep a short “humor emergency kit” of saved videos, memes, or messages that reliably make you laugh.
For example: Keep a folder in your photos app filled with memes, screenshots, or silly photos that make you laugh.
Hope the rest of today goes smoothly for you and nothing unexpected poops up. (Like an awful typo?) 😊
Here’s to Your Well Being!
John Findura, LAC
Licensed Therapist
