humor your stress
DESCRIPTION
Understanding the psychological and workplace benefits of laughter.TRANSCRIPT
Humor Your Stress
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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
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
Physiological Benefits of Humor
• Secretes catecholamines (alertness hormones)• Secretes endorphins• Reduces stress hormones• Boosts the immune system
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
Psychological Benefits of Humor
• Allows avoidance/distraction from crisis/issue at hand
• Facilitates creativity/learning• Reframes situations (different perspective)• Provides balance in life
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
Ways to Increase Laughter In Your Life
• Watch funny television shows/movies• Collect cartoons• Join e-mail joke services• Exaggerate your tough situations
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.
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
• 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”
Humor In The Workplace - What Is OK?
• Be There
• Play
• Make Their Day
• Choose Your Attitude
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“Jokes of the proper kind, properly told, can do more to enlighten questions of politics, philosophy andliterature, than any number of dull arguments.”-Isaac Asimov