Improve Your Year with Humor

Happy New Year! Though already 2021 has been filled with all sorts of unexpected happenings, some of which are easily not classified as "happy", 2021 has been a highly anticipated year. So much so that this year is going to be an easier one to remember to write “2021” when we write down the date (shout out to every other person who still in March is instinctively writing the previous year in the date).

As we say ‘goodbye’ to 2020 and look ahead to this coming year, here are some ways to improve your year with some humor. The principles of improv comedy help us improve joy, connection, and finding the funny in life. Here are some ways to apply these principles to your life this year, so you too can improve joy, connection, achievement, focus, and more!

Say yes, and.

Acknowledge the reality of the ‘scene you’re in,’ and then make decisions based on the reality. Before we can move forward to pursue new ideas or solve challenges, we need to acknowledge where we are in the present moment. Be with yourself and ask yourself where you’re at and imagine where you want to go. Consider the reality and be creative about any new reality you want in your life. When we make vision boards, set SMART goals, or otherwise make new commitments to ourselves, we’re imagining where we want to be, and in order to get there, we need to be realistic about where we are today and take inventory of our skills and resources, so to best be able to utilize them to flow towards our goals.

Here’s a simple way to practice saying “yes, and” in your life.

Take some time every morning and throughout your day to check in with yourself and the situation. Rather than stress out over the arduous big weight loss goal or book writing deadline, consider where you’re at today (saying “yes”) and what you can do today to get closer to achieving your goal (saying “and”). You can’t magically finish writing your book, but you can write 5 pages. You cannot change the number on the scale, but you can skip the pint of ice cream and go for a walk instead. Recognizing what we can and cannot control is imperative to living the “yes, and” life. When we say “yes, and” we’re acknowledging what we can do, and then doing it.

Important note: saying “yes, and” doesn’t always mean literally saying “yes.” If you get invited to a big party and you don’t want to go (because Covid, duh!) acknowledging the invitation and opportunity is saying “yes” “and” then you can decide not to go and to rather spend your time elsewhere, alone in a dark room or in Zoom like the rest of us social distancers :)

Take everything as a gift.

Every moment is an opportunity to move forward and grow. When we learn from our circumstances, our friends, and the world around us we are setting ourselves up for a life filled with joy, growth, and connection. When we view the world this way, looking for gifts instead of sorrows, we get less triggered by other people and world events. 

Important note: I’m not asking you to wear rose colored glasses. Be real. Remember to acknowledge the reality of the scene you’re in. Taking everything as a gift doesn’t mean don’t get angry, mad, upset. Not at all! Take all emotions (even those you may perceive as ‘negative’ or ‘scary’) as gifts and use them as insight to learn about yourself, other people, and the world.

Play the scene you’re in.

Though it is a new year, we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Be in that scene. Unfortunately we are not in a scene that’s conducive to mass group gatherings and casual hugging sessions with strangers in the park. So, don’t do those things. Play the scene you’re in and discover new activities that are better fits for this scene. Things like coloring in a coloring book, watching Netflix, going for socially distant walks, and sending hug emojis ??

If it feels weird, do it.

The fresh start of a new year is a great time to make new choices. New choices, either big or small, help us build resiliency in our minds and bodies. Here are a few new choices that are simple to make and impactful on our neurology -- and they’re fun!

• Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand (and maybe end with a minute with your dominant hand, just in case you missed any spots. No one wants a cavity.)
• Use your non-dominant hand to hold your fork. You’re welcome to anyone who gets to watch you eat :)
• Before you get out of bed in the morning, take 5 full body breaths. This will calm your nervous system and reduce the likelihood of feeling dizzy from getting up too fast!

If you want to keep improving with humor this year, please join me in improving every week, Monday at 9:15 am PST / 12:15 pm EST. Email Mary at [email protected] for details.

Here’s to a great year filled with health, happiness, and humor

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