Are you feeling the weight of stress and anxiety in your everyday life? Then, it’s time to lighten things up with some laughter. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress, boost moods, and even improve overall health, as discussed in last week’s piece. In this article, we’ll explore nine creative ways to tickle your funny bone. From stand-up comedy shows to laughter yoga, there’s something for everyone. So, let’s dive in and start chuckling our way to a happier, healthier life.

1. Watch a Stand-Up Comedy Show

A great way to add humor to your life is to watch a stand-up comedy show. There are endless options available online or in person, so you’ll find a comedian that resonates with your sense of humor. Whether you’re watching alone or with friends, the contagious laughter of the audience will surely tickle your funny bone. No, seriously, scientists proved that laughter really is contagious! If you don’t believe me, click here to read a piece by Psychology Today with all the details. 

If you’re looking for something more interactive, consider attending an open mic night or performing stand-up yourself. It can be nerve-wracking to get up on stage, but there’s something liberating about making others laugh. Remember that the best comedy comes from honesty and vulnerability, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and quirks. If that’s too much for you, reserving a seat at a joint like The Comedy Store that’s front and center right gives you a chance to become part of the action for a joke or two without having to work up the courage to go on stage.

2. Tickle Your Funny Bone by Listening to Comedy Podcasts

Another great way to laugh more often is by listening to comedy podcasts. With so many options available, you can easily find a podcast that aligns with your sense of humor, especially if you check out this article by Esquire that lists 38 of their favorites. How does Esquire have time to listen to all those podcasts?!?

Plus, tickling your funny bone by listening to a comedy podcast is a perfect activity for commuting, doing housework, or just lounging around. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your mood can lift when listening to something funny.

3. Host a Game Night with Friends

If you’re feeling social, consider inviting your most hilarious friends over for a game night. Playing board games or card games is a great way to bond with friends while having fun. And if you’re looking for even more laughter, try playing a game specifically designed to bring out the giggles. With some planning, you can create a night full of laughter and good memories while simultaneously sneaking in an ab workout.

Playing games with friends is a classic way to spend quality time together and have a lot of laughs. Whether you’re into board games, card games, or party games, there’s something out there for everyone. Not only does playing games foster a sense of camaraderie, but it also provides a fun outlet for competition and creativity. The best part? You can find games designed to tickle your funny bone and create hilarious memories you’ll all cherish.

If you’re looking to host a game night with friends, start by selecting a few games that everyone can enjoy. Consider games that are easy to learn but provide enough challenge to keep things interesting. Finally, choose games with a silly or absurd aspect to them, like a game that involves drawing ridiculous pictures or telling outrageous stories.

Once you’ve chosen your games, plan ahead to ensure everyone has a comfortable place to sit, plentiful snacks and drinks, and any necessary game materials like pencils or tokens. Then sit back and let the fun begin! You’ll be amazed at how quickly the hours fly by when you’re laughing and having a good time with your friends.

If you’re hesitant about hosting a game night, remember that laughter is contagious, and everyone loves to have a good time. So gather your friends, break out the board games, and let the fun begin! 

4. Try Laughter Yoga

Laughter is a powerful tool for improving your mental health and overall quality of life. And if you’re looking for a unique way to inject more laughter into your routine, try laughter yoga. WTF is laughter yoga, you ask? As I learned from Positive Psychology, laughter or hasna yoga is an intentional exercise involving movement and yogic breathing exercises (pranayama) to promote voluntary laughter over a prolonged period (Macdonell, 1996).

The best part? You don’t need any special equipment or experience to get started. Laughter yoga classes can be found in many communities, or you can even try practicing independently with the help of the many tutorials available on YouTube, like this one. And once you get the hang of it, you might be surprised at how much joy and laughter you can generate in just a few minutes.

But if laughter yoga isn’t your thing, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to bring more laughter into your life. 

5. Tickle Your Funny Bone by Reading a Funny Book

As we’ve learned, a good laugh can improve our mood and make us feel more connected to others. So if you’re looking for another way to bring more laughter into your life, consider picking up a funny book. I know reading books is a rather esoteric activity in today’s fast-paced, modern world. But I’m a writer and a voracious reader, so I had to include this one. If you are also an avid reader, remember whether it’s a memoir, a comedy novel, or a collection of humorous essays, laughing along with the characters can relieve stress.

But reading funny books does more than make us feel good. Research shows that regular reading can improve cognitive functioning, boost creativity, and even build empathy for others. Plus, with so many great comedic writers, you’re sure to find something that fits your sense of humor. 

Of course, reading a funny book is just one option for adding more laughter to your life. If you’re looking for a more interactive experience, consider attending an improv workshop. 

6. Attend an Improv Workshop

If you’re searching for a more interactive way to tickle your funny bone, try attending an improv workshop. Not only will you enjoy the humor of others, but you’ll also have the opportunity to strengthen your communication and teamwork skills. Improv workshops involve spontaneous, unscripted skits and require participants to think on their feet and work with their fellow performers. This can lead to plenty of laughs and provide a fun way to bond with others. Back in the day, when I was a high school student taking drama classes, the improv work was always side-splitting fun. 

7. Organize a Brunch with the Besties

Planning a brunch with your best friends is yet another great way to inject more laughter into your life while strengthening your relationships. Get your group of friends together and plan a menu, decorate the table, and take turns sharing your funniest stories. A potluck-style brunch makes it easier for the hostess. It also allows all guests to be sure they like something available because most people bring their favorites. 

Sharing laughs over a tasty brunch will not only boost your mood, but it will also create happy memories to reflect on in the future. Try an icebreaker activity where each guest writes down three comedic stories, two that happened in real life and one that they made up. Then, have the other guests try to guess which funny stories are true and which is a lie. You can also play a party game like Mafia (click here to learn how to play this fun, interactive party game) or Charades or Pictionary if Mafia is too complex for your crew. 

Getting together with friends regularly can break up the monotony of everyday life, and injecting humor into your gatherings can make them even more memorable. So, after organizing a brunch with your besties, why not try getting out of your comfort zones together? It can be a great way to bond and create even more laughter.

8. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Tickle Your Funny Bone Together

After organizing a fun brunch with your friends, it’s time to take things up a notch and step out of your comfort zone together. Whether trying a new activity like indoor skydiving, golfing, or taking an improv class, doing something that scares you can create a bond and shared experience that you’ll remember for years to come. It also gives you tons of opportunities to laugh at yourselves and your failures. Plus, pushing yourself to try new things can boost your confidence and make you feel more comfortable taking risks in other areas of your life.

Are you not feeling up to having fun? I’ve been in that place before and have good news for you. Faking laughter can provide many of the same benefits that genuine laughter does. So, it’s okay if you don’t have the energy to laugh for real. It seems there’s some merit to that old saying, “fake it until you make it,” after all.

9. Fake It Until You Make It

Although laughter provides a wide variety of benefits to body and mind, sometimes you’re in a mental state where nothing tickles your funny bone. For example, grief and anger can often inhibit my ability to find amusement in much of anything. But sometimes, faking laughter can be the key to feeling better. By pretending to laugh and smile (try and laugh without smiling – I dare you), you trick your brain into thinking it’s happy. And when your brain thinks you’re happy, you start to experience that emotion.

For example, researchers Celeste M Greene, M.A., Jennifer Craft Morgan, Ph.D., LaVona S Traywick, Ph.D., and Chivon A Mingo, Ph.D., conducted a study that you can read here where they found that simulated laughter provides similar benefits as real laughter. The study offers a glimpse into why hasna (laughter) yoga works, as it’s based on this principle. The researchers focused on delivering laughter-based benefits to aging adults with cognitive difficulty “getting” a joke. Still, it can also benefit those that are grieving, ill, depressed, or otherwise not with the mental capacity to find humor in jokes or comical situations. 

Of course, this strategy isn’t foolproof. Sometimes, faking it won’t be enough to overcome your mood. But it’s worth a try since it can’t hurt and might help. 

Before I close this section, I must shout out an older movie that cracks me up, The Road to Wellville, which you can watch for free on TubiTV. The comedy contains several scenes where patients practice a fake laughter exercise: part laugh, part a singer’s vocal warm-up, and part breath work. It isn’t easy to describe, but the scene played in my mind the entire time I was writing this, so here’s a clip so you can see what I’m talking about:

Now, good luck getting that out of your head. 😂

Last Words Before You Use These Tips to Tickle Your Funny Bone

Like I said last week, laughter really is the best medicine, and incorporating these nine creative ways to inject humor into your life is guaranteed to bring joy and happiness into your daily routine. From attending a stand-up comedy show to hosting a game night with friends, trying laughter yoga, or simply reading a funny book, there are plenty of ways to tickle your funny bone. So try to break out of your routine and have some fun! Remember, taking time to laugh and have fun is essential for your overall well-being. As the famous quote goes, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

So whether you’re practicing laughter yoga, reading a funny book, or enjoying board games with friends, remember to make laughter a regular part of your routine. Your mental health and happiness will thank you!

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