Harnessing Humor: Simple Techniques for Stress Relief at Work (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: I want you to think about the last time you had a really good laugh. Same see a blank face as I see from coast to coast. We're going to do a little research because, boy, NACU is all about research and education. And so what we're going to do here is on the count of three, if you're physically able, I'll ask you to stand. If not, do this from a seated position. But on the count of three, stand and then facing me, I want you to just take a deep breath and then I want you to put the shape of a smile on your face. For the purpose of this research, this does not have to be a real smile, okay? I will give you one last set of instructions and then you can sit down and groan loudly and we will give you the reasons for this research. All right, count of three. One two three, stand, take a deep breath. Now put the shape of a smile on your face. And I need to see teeth. I don't care if they're yours, okay? Now last set of instructions, turn and make eye contact with the victim to your left or right and now sit down groaning loudly. This is great. This is great. All right. Two things here. One, now everybody has a tool. If you had to leave right this minute, and please don't, but if you had to leave right now, you would have a tool. The next time you go back to work and you're sitting at your desk and you think, if one more person puts one more thing on my desk, I'm going to have to snatch them bald-headed. Now all you have to do is facing your entryway, doorway or hallway, sitting or standing, just do this. Because the next person to walk in and see you looking like this, they're going to know that now is not the time to bother you. You can play with your pain. You can be intentional. Doing little exercises. Here's another one that you may have known, you just forgot you knew it. Hold out your right thumb, forefinger about an inch apart, close your left eye. Now find someone's head across the room, bring your thumb and forefinger together and squish. They don't even know they were hit. It's amazing, it's amazing.