Understanding the psychological and workplace benefits of laughter.

1. Humor Your Stress

2. Holy Bloopers
• “Let us join David and Lisa in the celebration of
their wedding and bring their happiness to a
conclusion.”
• “Thursday at 5pm there will be a meeting of the
Little Mothers Club. All wishing to become Little
Mothers please see the minister in his private
study.”

3. Holy Bloopers
• “The pastor will preach his farewell message after
which the choir will sing, ‘Break Forth Into Joy.’”
• “The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of
every kind and they may be seen in the church
basement Friday.”

4. Holy Bloopers
• “Next Friday we will be serving hot gods for lunch.”
• “The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to
make calls on people who are not afflicted with any
church.”

5. Holy Bloopers
• “The senior choir invites any member of the
congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.”
• “The minister unveiled the church’s new offering
campaign slogan last Sunday, “I Upped My Pledge -
Up Yours.”

10. Did You Know?
• The average pre-schooler laughs 400 times a day; by
age 35 that drops to 15 times a day.
• Every time you have a good laugh you burn up 3.5
calories

11. Physiological Benefits of Humor
• Increases heart rate/circulation
• Stimulates respiratory activity
• Decreases blood pressure
• Improves digestion
• Secretes catecholamines (alertness hormones)
• Secretes endorphins
• Reduces stress hormones
• Boosts the immune system

12. Physiological Benefits of Humor
• Secretes catecholamines (alertness hormones)
• Secretes endorphins
• Reduces stress hormones
• Boosts the immune system

13. Psychological Benefits of Humor
• Express hostility/anger in acceptable ways
• Decreases anxiety, tension and stress
• Opens lines of communication
• Keeps one alert and in the present moment

14. Psychological Benefits of Humor
• Allows avoidance/distraction from crisis/issue at
hand
• Facilitates creativity/learning
• Reframes situations (different perspective)
• Provides balance in life

15. Workplace Benefits of Humor
• Humor breaks up boredom and fatigue
• Humor makes the workplace a desirable place to be
• Helps bond co-workers together
• Improves productivity (if you enjoy what you are
doing, you do it better)
• Previous slides - decreases tension, improves
communication, promotes creativity

16. Ways to Increase Laughter In Your Life
• Watch funny television shows/movies
• Collect cartoons
• Join e-mail joke services
• Exaggerate your tough situations

17. Ways to Increase Laughter In Your Life
• Make a point of getting those close to you to laugh
each day
• Laugh at yourself
• Watch children play, talk
• Props - bubbles, games, etc.

18. Humor In The Workplace
• Stress ball (no throwing!)
• Joke calendars
• Humor Board
• Name the office equipment and talk to it
• Bubbles, toys, coloring books
• Meetings - hats, sunglasses, silly putty
• Start with a video or music

19. Humor In The Workplace - What Is OK?
• Think of the message
• Know your audience
• Leave serious topics alone - anything that could be
painful to someone
• Be careful of politics
• When in doubt, leave it out
• Think “Seinfeld”, not “The Office”

20. FISH!
(www.charthouse.com)
• Be There
• Play
• Make Their Day
• Choose Your Attitude
http://www.charthouse.com/productdetail.aspx?nodei
d=24103

21. “Jokes of the proper kind, properly told, can do more to
enlighten questions of politics, philosophy and
literature, than any number of dull arguments.”
-Isaac Asimov