Humor - oh, dearest humor. Without it, life would be much more dull, and the basic human function of laughter would be absolutely useless. How boring that world would be! (Or maybe everything would be like North Korea, and all laughter would be merely for the good of the Great Leader.)
Below are five easy ways to get started on using humor to enrich your life. We can't guarantee you'll be funny, but we can guarantee you'll be a little more stress-free.
#5. Be Friendlier
Too often we get caught up in the monotony of the Web. It's extremely easy to pen emails that get straight to the point, or maybe we take typos and grammar mistakes just a little too seriously. Okay, we get it -- people receive tons of communication per day, and adding any extra length to your correspondence is going to waste even more of their time.
We completely and totally get that.
But if you're in good company, don't be afraid to be a little more informal. Tell a joke you just heard to your colleague, comment on something you saw on their Facebook and apply it to the conversation - it's okay. Promise. Don't be so uptight, kid.
Are you horrible at finding jokes? Here are a few sites we recommend to enhance your stories (and you don't have to say you got 'em from us):
- Reddit.com/r/Jokes
- Comedy Central: Jokes
- Anti-Joke [Broken URL Removed]
#4. Don't Argue So Much
Did someone say something wrong on the Internet? Some people like to get up in arms about it and write a lengthy tirade in rebuttal. Well, imagine if every single time a hypothetical jerk wrote a statement full of jackassery, his words were replaced with this:
RAR-RAR-RAR, I'M A GUY WITH A LAPTOP USING REDDIT AND I'M GOING TO DISSECT YOUR POINT OF VIEW USING MULTIPLE BULLET POINTS AND VARIOUS HIGH-BROW INSULTS.
This is what some of us here at MakeUseOf tend to do. It's just a bunch of talk, really. As far as responses to such anger go, I sometimes like to make an irrelevant comment on their user name (especially if it's something funny). Sometimes, this brings things and everyone back to the same level -- the point is to simply chill out.
The same goes for real life, too. However, we don't necessarily recommend making fun of someone's actual name.
#3. Loosen Up On The Socials
Let's get even more serious: Facebook is meant for communication only, right? There's absolutely no need for goofy photos or videos -- after all, that's incredibly unprofessional. LinkedIn is merely the ultimate way to appear stiff and uptight in addition to all the Likes and - ugh - pokes, and all other sites should basically copy them, right?
NO.
Post jokes you've found on Howwlr.com, link to a funny picture you found on Reddit, or make a goofy caption for someone's silly family photo. It's not annoying, and if it is to some people, well... I'm willing to bet that they are just jaded by the Internet. You don't even have to necessarily be vulgar with your comments, people -- good humor can be family-friendly, too.
Also consider following humorous accounts such as @SeinfeldToday on Twitter (which posts log-lines describing hypothetical episodes of the show in a modern setting) or SoulPancake on YouTube (Rainn Wilson's brainchild which showcases quirky humor paired with thoughtful, inspirational themes).
#2. Follow Comedians
Ricky Gervais, Aziz Ansari, Louis CK... all of these guys utilize humor in their day to day lives. That said, we encourage you to follow them on a regular basis using all social media outlets. In fact, check out their shows on Netflix, look up their stand-up routines on YouTube. Essentially, do whatever you can to immerse yourself in creative, intelligent humor.
Ricky Gervais uses intelligent humor paired with a bit of cringe comedy and social awkwardness - something we can all relate to. Meanwhile, Ansari tends to focus on his personal life and finding the humor in everyday situations - a must! Of course, then there's CK, who takes the reality of life and puts it in a humorous perspective: we all get older, we gain weight, we have hangovers...
Other celebrities to follow include George Takei and his famous Facebook page as well as online comic The Oatmeal. Takei, former sci-fi star and legendary accomplished actor, posts humorous photos found on the Web by himself and his staff. Simple stuff, but they are always to bring a smile. Comics like the Oatmeal just add an element of silliness we all sometimes need.
Why follow these creatives? First of all, laughter will reduce stress. Honest. Second, by relating to these funny people, you'll eventually find humor in your day to day lives. Just try.
#1. Take Time To Chill, And Do It Often
This won't necessarily present you with new jokes or stories to tell, but by making yourself relax for at least an hour a day, you'll likely become more relaxed in other aspects of your life. This often leads to a less stressful response to seemingly stressful situations, and often, you'll probably find yourself laughing more about situations as opposed to completely freaking out about them.
Personally, I take an hour every other day to go to my favorite coffee shop, listen to music, and read humorous findings on the Internet. Occasionally, I'll pile on a second hour at that same coffee shop and apply it to my work -- for some reason, the setting just helps reduce stress.
Has this led to a more relaxed personal life? You betcha. Do I find things funnier now? That, too.
What other ways have you enriched your life by developing a sense of humor? Have you found life to be easier without a sense of humor?
Image Credits: JD Hancock, North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, Gage Skidmore, Jason Howie, Archman8, Dave 77459