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Laughing when life is hard

Why humour helps more than you think

Laughing when things are hard can feel… wrong. Like you’re not taking it seriously enough.

But humour isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about giving yourself a break from the heaviness.

Humour works like a pressure valve. When stress builds, laughter helps release some of that tension. It also shifts perspective, creating just enough distance to make things feel a bit more manageable.

In fact, the right kind of humour — light, shared, or self-supportive — has been linked to better coping and resilience during tough times.

What this can look like

  • A meme that nails your mood

  • Laughing at how ridiculous something is

  • Sharing a “you couldn’t make this up” moment with someone

It doesn’t fix the situation — but it softens it.

How to lean into laughter during tough times

Let it happen
If something feels funny, don’t shut it down.

Keep it kind
The helpful kind of humour connects or lightens — not puts you (or others) down.

Have a few go-tos
A show, a person, a playlist — something easy to reach for when things feel heavy.