Laugh Your Job Off

Sometimes I think I was hired for my laugh. I don't find it unusual, but a lot of people at work comment on it. Some coworkers call me the Giggler or Betty Rubble, some simply use my laugh as a beacon to be able to track me down when they need something.

So yes, there are sometimes I regret my boisterous laugh in the office, but I would not be able to work at a job in which I could not find some enjoyment.

Not that I haven't had those.  We all have.  You do what you have to do to survive. But there are ways to make even the worst job entertaining enough to get you through.  

Make em laugh!  Jokes, witty responses, or even a few little harmless pranks can help ease some of the tension.  To celebrate my boss’s birthday, I filled his office with balloons.  In an ongoing prank war with a manager over a Pitt vs FSU game (I still swear – he started it!), I covered some army men in glitter to look like Florida State’s Garnet and Gold Guys and decorated his office.  

Florida State University Garnet and Gold Guys

My version caused little clean-up, but lots of laughter.

Chances are, if you’re really stressed, so are your coworkers.  There are plenty of fun things you can do to help ease the tension and make the office more enjoyable for everyone!



Bring in sugar.  Bake some cookies, bring in some old Halloween candy, or buy some donuts.  Being tired or hungry can only exacerbate the stress. Two of those problems can be eased by a treat.  Nothing brightens everyone’s mood quite like a sugary surprise. (The department-wide sugar high doesn’t hurt office morale either).  Plus, giving and seeing the joy people have for that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling too.

Find a friend. There may be some coworkers you don’t like. But there’s usually at least one person you can talk to. The best way to bond?  Finding common ground over the faults of your workplace. You're not going to be the only one with complaints and there's a certain bond people form from being forced to survive in a difficult situation together.

Laugh over the craziness and the spilled milk.  Now this has to be a conscious choice certainly.  Sometimes my mantra for the day is "laugh or cry."  It's stressful to me at that moment, but then I have to put it into perspective.  If I told someone else about it, how would they react?  Think - Three Stooges comedy.

It’s just so ridiculous it’s funny!  Everybody knocks over a glass or falls on their face.  In the middle of taking minutes during a big committee meeting, I knocked over a chair and an external member stood up to help me fix it.  At the time, I was MORTIFIED. Looking back it's pretty hilarious. Put it all in perspective. Besides, without these events throughout the day, you'd have no funny stories to tell later.

DISCLAIMER: There is a time and a place for everything.  Be smart. Be professional.  Gauge the mood.  Silly stringing your boss’s office – difficult to clean.  Laughing when you caused a million dollar accounting error – unprofessional.  Complaining to the office gossip – might get you fired.  Ultimately it’s a job. You need to stay employed and you don’t want to look poorly, so make good decisions about what can work best for you in your environment.

Remember, if you don't want to work somewhere, your coworkers probably don't want you there either. Nothing is worse than the negative attitude of someone stuck in a position they hate. You want to be someone they'll miss. As long as you're trying to look on the positive while you're applying to other jobs, you'll keep your spirits up and remain on the good side of a potential professional reference.

One of my favorite pictures.  Seems to capture the pure essence of me laughing, no?