Laughter is the Best Medicine!

It sounds like a strange idea, but laughter can help you overcome stress. Even though we laughed as children, law school and the legal profession don’t tend to provide you with the same level of comedic relief.

However, laughter has been commonly found to decrease stress, trigger a release of endorphins, and even help strengthen your immune system.

1. Laugh at situations; don’t bemoan them:

We’re bound to run into situations that we think are the end of the world. Common examples include: encountering a cold call that didn’t go well, an awkward phone interview, or accidentally replying “Thank you” to the cashier at Trader Joe’s who just asked you how your day is going.

While these situations might seem stressful or frustrating in the moment, find the ability to laugh at them and find the humor in anything. Being able to find a comedic upside to any situation will keep you from over analyzing situations and being frustrated with yourself in the long run.

2. Remind yourself to lighten up:

Sometimes you just need something whimsical to make you smile, particularly when you’re having a rough day. Putting a funny screensaver on your phone or even asking one of your friends to tell you a joke can go a long way.

I personally recommend looking at law school memes if you need a quick laugh. If anything, they can show you that everyone is just as frustrated with Pennoyer v. Neff and Palsgraf as you are.

3. Remember funny things that happen

Have you ever had one of those moments where your friend said something hilarious and you just can’t control your laughter? Reflect on those moments and remember them. Chances are, it’ll be just what you need after a stressful day at the firm or after your fourth class of the day.

4. Deal with stress

Unfortunately, stress has a frustrating way of accumulating. If you don’t deal with it one day, you’re just putting it off onto the next day. Stress can inhibit your ability to enjoy your day, laugh, and maintain a positive attitude.

With the constant deadlines that we deal with in the legal profession, stress is a completely natural byproduct. However, you need to deal with stress in a way that works for you. Whether it is watching a humorous video for a few minutes a day, watching a comedy special, or thinking about a positive memory.