Let me start by saying, I understand the resistance.
Laughter can feel inappropriate in the face of chaos. You may be feeling this way even before the doomscrolling starts. Just suggesting laughter now can sound naïve, like someone telling you to “just breathe” while you’re actively drowning.
So let’s break it down. The why, when and how of it.
Why? Because laughter is actually good for us.
Not in a “Live Laugh Love” throw-pillow way, in a real science way. Laughter releases tension, increases oxygen, boosts circulation, and delivers feel good hormones right to the brain. Dopamine, anyone? Highly legal mood upgrade.
When? Now. More than ever. Not after things calm down. Which reminds me of students who tell me they have “writer’s block.” I always say, write anyway. Doesn’t have to be Tolstoy, but put the pen to the page. I feel strongly that this is true for laughter too. Don’t succumb to a “laughter block.” Make the effort. Even five minutes of levity can help regulate your nervous system. Okay, okay…but…
How? How do you find laughter when everything feels heavy?How do you, as Rudyard Kipling wrote in If, “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs”? Or in this case keep your sense of humor?
To be clear, Kipling was not talking about giggling in this poem. But his advice about not giving in to hating feels especially relevant. Choosing levity and connection isn’t denial. For most of us at this point, it’s more like defiance. It could be seen as radical self-care. Radical laughter, anyone?
Towards that end, here are some very human, very doable ways to invite more laughter into your life.
1. Fake laugh. I know. Stay with me.
This sounds bad. That’s okay.
Fact is, if you start physically laughing, even doing a forced, awkward “ha ha ho ho hee hee,” your brain will join the party. This is the foundation of Laughter Yoga, created by Dr. Madan Kataria, whose ebullient 71 year old presence is impossible to resist. I know, I tried.
HINT: Your body doesn’t know the difference between real and fake laughter. It just catches on, “Oh! We’re doing this now.” And then, surprise, you actually are.
2. Share something that made you laugh (not what’s “funny”).
Text a friend a line you overheard. A typo. A thought that made you laugh inappropriately and then pretend to cough.
HINT: I didn’t realize this but experts have found that the phrase “this made me laugh” is more engaging than “this is hilarious.” Semantics maybe, but revealing self is part of the shared laughter experience.
3. Watch something short and deeply ridiculous.
Not necessarily a full comedy special.
Ninety seconds of absurdity will do. A cat video. A cooking fiasco. A sketch that makes no sense. Just something that reminds your brain it doesn’t have to solve anything right now.
HINT: Absurdity is a nervous system reset button. Just press it.
4. Laugh with someone, not at anything.
Call someone you trust. Acknowledge how weird, hard, or confusing things feel—and then let yourselves laugh at the f’ing courage it takes to be human.
HINT: Some of the best laughter isn’t about jokes. It can happen in those, “wait, did you see that too?” moments.
5. Schedule laughter like it’s a meeting you can’t cancel.
This sounds extreme. It is not. Put something joyful on the calendar: a walk with a funny friend, a game night, an improv class, five minutes of dancing around in your underwear. The word “intentional” is very hot right now. It’s easy to dismiss and yet, you shortchange yourself if you do. Some couples put sex dates in their calendars. They are “intentional” about intimacy. Good for them. If they can do that, we can certainly do the same thing with laughter, joy and connection.
