Q: When is it good to have a sense of humor?
A: Pretty much always. But especially when you’re a college student.
Contrary to what the movies show, college isn’t always a barrel of laughs. (Really, a Barrel of Monkeys might be closer to the mark…) But having a good sense of humor is important to keeping your sanity while hitting the books.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you go short-sheeting your roommate or stealing the mascot of your rivals; and while crank-calls can be fun, they’re just not the same since the advent of caller ID. What I am suggesting is that you not let the books weigh you down and make sure to laugh whenever you can.
Here are a few ways to keep the laughter rolling:
- Take advantage of little moments. Smiling is the gateway to laughter, and it helps to smile at all the little things around you. A couple of weeks ago, I received the following text from my sister: “I saw a beaver tonight. FYI.” Not only was she appreciating the little things, she shared it with me and made me smile!
- Learn to laugh at yourself– did you trip on the way to class? Laugh about how funny you must’ve looked!
- Try to find the humor in a frustrating situation, rather than letting things get to you.
- If someone says something funny, write it down! Keep a notebook with funny quotes in it that you can read through when you need a laugh.
- Watch clips of Brian Regan on YouTube or an old Bugs Bunny cartoon.
- Take your own photos or find photos online and write funny captions on them, then hang them up in your apartment or by your desk.
- Memorize a few jokes and share them with others.
- Find silly things that you can do each day. Speak with a funny accent, or carry a fake moustache in your pocket & put it on from time to time.
Make it a habit! Try to find something humorous every day. Ask friends and classmates to tell you funny stories, too. The more you try to find the humor in things, the brighter life will seem!
