How A Sense of Humor Can Help You Cope With Life

Can you remember the last time you watched a video on  the internet that made you laugh, really laugh?  Chances are it wasn't too long ago either!

Everyday I see my news feeds from Social Media fill up with videos. Some are only mildly amusing to me, but, now and then I find one that really makes me laugh.

Keeping your sense of humor and remembering to tune into it can really help you through the tougher times in life.  It can even help you cope with the difficult times.

When times are hard in your life and you are struggling to cope, allowing yourself to laugh at something no matter how small or insignificant, can have a huge impact on your physiology.

Sometimes when we are going through a difficult phase in our lives, we can forget what it like to find something funny. or feel like we shouldn't allow ourselves to find something amusing. But keeping your sense of humor can be key to helping you cope with these difficult times.

Physiologically, when we laugh at something we can cause huge changes at a cellular level that can help us relax and realize that life isn't always meant to be serious even during the tough times.

Life can be tough but it is important to boost you mood when you feel like life is getting you down.  Remembering that a sense of humor can help lighten the burden you are carrying is key to moving forward towards that feeling that you are coping again.


Laughter has a powerful effect on the body causing the following changes:

Laughter reduces the stress hormone cortisol which weakens immune response.  

The immune system is boosted by activating natural killer cells and T lymphocytes.

Blood pressure and heart rate levels drop after laughter.

Endorphins (the body's natural painkillers) are produced.


Muscle tension in the face, chest and abdomen is reduced by the contraction and relaxation of the muscles during laughing.

All too often we forget to embrace the laughter still in the world during the difficult periods of our life.

So now that you know all the health benefits to laughter how do you incorporate it into your life? Here are some tips to incorporate laughter and remembering to use you sense of humor into your every day life. 

Find what you think is funny

Not everyone finds the same things humorous, find what works for you.  If you love watching cats doing epic fails or falling asleep in random places then go find the videos on the internet.  There are so many different clips out there nowadays with the internet at our fingertips.  Make a point each week to schedule some time just enjoying watching things you find funny.  You will find that it will be a welcome distraction from whatever is going on in your life right now.

Don't just wait for them to appear before you on your newsfeed.  Go find them when you have a spare moment.  Give yourself a giggle break even if only for a few minutes.  You will find you go back to your day a little brighter.

Don't think that because you are going through a difficult time that you don't deserve to laugh.  Life is so serious that we sometimes forget to enjoy it.....for weeks, months and even years at a time.

Think back to your childhood and some of the crazy, funny things that you remember doing.  Bring back that memory and relive it.  Remember what it was like to be a child and carefree in that moment.  Embrace that feeling, it's a little welcome escape from the seriousness of life.  All too often we don't allow ourselves to be silly, happy and laugh!!

Next time you are in a tense place with a family member think about something you did together that was funny and allow this feeling to permeate your body and mind, this helps to reduce your anger and frustration. 

Finally I hope this inspires you to bring back your sense of humor into your life today.  We all deserve to life happier more fulfilled lives. 

This summer I was lucky enough to go back to my home country of Scotland with my husband and 2 children who are 9 and 7.

I decided to go and visit my father's grave which is on a beautiful hill top with hardly any houses around.  I always find this difficult because my father's passing was quite unexpected and I was five months pregnant with Ethan my first child when he passes.

The graveyard is very small and the road leading to it and from it is a single winding track with passing places here and there for if you meet any other cars which you seldom do.

When we were leaving and driving down the track to reach the main road there is a narrow hairpin corner which we turned down and saw three beautiful horses at the gate on the roadside.  My children asked that we stop and stroke the horses, so we did.  My children have never seen horses so close out in a field and were in awe of how beautiful they were.

Suddenly from across the glen somewhere came this eeeeeooooooorrrrrrrr!!! booming across the fields.  I thought nothing of it until I heard the running of little feet and a car door slamming.  'Alyssa??" I called but all I could hear was her older brother snorting with a laughter that was preventing him from breathing.  

My daughter hearing the call had panicked not knowing what it was, had legged it out of there as quick as her little feet could carry her and was in the safety of the car while her brother tried to recover from his hysterical laughter.

According to my Daughter Alyssa, it was scary because she thought it was a bull or a monster or something!! What on EARTH???

I explained that it was a donkey braying and far away too so she was in no immediate danger!  Through my laughing I was crying.

'Well mom I have never heard a donkey eeooyyying!!" she said quite matter of factly with her hands on her hips, after I had persuaded her to come back out of the car.

Ethan her brother had another laughing fit at night as I tucked him into bed.  He told me that had been the funniest thing he had seen as he recounted the experience through his laughs.

Laughter can help us through the tougher times.  After all I believe we were given the gift of laughter to help us get through life.  Can you imagine how dull life would be if nothing gave you any pleasure or laughs or giggles??