Option 1: Create a Laughter First-Aid Box.

In the article, Mary Laskin, a nurse case manager, said she recommended laughter first-aid boxes for her patients, where they can stash joke books, funny toys and other props for this purpose.

Assemble your own laughter first-aid box. It can be a physical kit like the one pictured above, or a collection of digital artifacts, such as funny video and movie recommendations, entertaining social media accounts to follow, a playlist of songs that make you chuckle, or anything else.

Make a list of all the things you would include in your box. Then, if you have time, put it together and send it to someone you care about or squirrel it away for yourself when youre in need of cheering up.

Option 2: Play With Your Pain.

Try this exercise suggested in the article:

Charlie Chaplin once said, In order to truly laugh you need to be able to take your pain and play with it, said Paul Osincup, the president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Write down all of the most difficult and annoying things about quarantine, Mr. Osincup recommends. Play with those. See if you can find any humor in your situation.

Once youve created your list, see if you can find something to laugh about in any of the things you wrote down. Then choose one of those experiences and make something funny from it. You might write a joke or a tweet, perform a comedy sketch or a stand-up bit, create a meme or a TikTok video. Whatever you make, share it with someone to make them laugh.

Then, reflect: What was it like to take your pain and play with it? What was the response when you shared your joke with others? How did that feel?

Option 3: Weigh In on Our Related Student Opinion Question.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, we asked students, Is It OK to Laugh During Dark Times?

Many students said yes. Julia Grandpre from Sarasota, Fla., wrote:

It is very important that we continue to laugh during these times. As a person who tends to dwell in negative thoughts, I believe that laughter is the best medicine right now. To find the fun in this situation, is not to take away from its severity, its just a coping mechanism As people we need a bright side to look for, and since we are quarantined, laughter and the sharing of creativity is the best way to bring us together.

But a few, like Lauren Ackermann from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., warned:

Honestly, I see our generation as one where it has become easier than ever to make what some would call insensitive jokes about pretty much anything because its easier to laugh at a dark joke on a screen just like its easier to cyber bully someone through a screen. In both cases, you dont directly see who you would impact by making a comment so you become disconnected from possible consequences. It might make you feel better to post that witty comment about people dying from coronavirus, but we all need to be mindful about how that comment would be perceived by people whose lives have been torn apart by the event you just laughed at.

What do you think? Read what else teenagers had to say, then add your voice to the conversation.

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See original here:

Lesson of the Day: Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times - The New York Times