How to Make Someone Laugh When They're Down & Lighten Their Burden

Sometimes, the people we love experience hardship. What are you supposed to do? There's only one thing to do: learn how to make someone laugh, of course!

When you're feeling down and out, who do you turn to? You look to your friends and family for comfort and a comedic moment to make you feel better. Learning how to make someone laugh is a great way to help people relax and enjoy time with you.

Whether someone is going through a hard season or you just want to make them smile, laughter is the best medicine. Now, I'm no scientist, but I can say that after laughing, I feel amazing and light-hearted. Sure, my stomach kills afterward, but that just means I've had a great time.

But not all of us have a strong funny bone. If you're not the comedic type, don't worry. You can still learn how to make someone laugh.

How to make someone laugh

People always assume they need to be hilarious or a jokester to make someone laugh. Listen, you don't need to be Amy Schumer or Bill Burr to make someone break out in laughter. If we were all super funny, well, wouldn't we all be comedians?

But if you want to learn how to make someone laugh, there are definitely some things to make the people around you share some laughs. Plus, it's a nice ego boost when you get the laugh. So, it's really a win-win for everyone. If you feel nervous, don't. Keep reading and you'll learn the skills to fill a room with laughter.

It's a good skill to have and always comes in handy.

#1 Figure out your type of humor. If you're a dry person then doing physical comedy may not be the style you go with. Figure out your sense of humor and work off it. Don't try to be someone you're not when it comes to comedy. That's when it can fail horribly.

The best way to appear funny to other people is by being yourself. I know this may sound cheesy but you need to find your own humor.

#2 Laughing is contagious. It really is contagious, so making one person laugh can create a domino effect. When someone is cracking up, you can't help but crack a smile. If you find something funny, show that person. When you're laughing, they'll soon join you. I've seen entire buses fill with laughter just from one person. It can happen!

#3 Compilation videos. Remember when I said that laughing is contagious? Well, it's true! Video compilations of people laughing are a guaranteed way to make someone laugh. Video compilations will have the people around you losing their mind from laughter. If you don't think you're funny, use the internet as your sidekick.

#4 Physical comedy, anyone? This method has been around since forever and it works every time. People always laugh watching others fall down or bump their heads. Look at Charlie Chaplin-he's the king of physical comedy. No, don't break your leg to make someone laugh. That's not what you want! Research physical comedy and choose an act that you feel comfortable doing in public.

#5 Toilet jokes. It doesn't matter how old you are, potty humor wins every time. I'm not saying it's intellectual humor, but you don't need an intelligent joke to have a laugh. When in doubt, use good ol' fashioned toilet humor. If you use a toilet joke at the right moment, you'll make everyone tear up. But also know that toilet jokes can't be used in every moment.

#6 Laugh at yourself. Sometimes you are actually the joke. See, you don't have to look far! Maybe you have an embarrassing story of something stupid you did. When you start to share it, even you'll be on the floor laughing. Poking fun at yourself is always a good way to make someone laugh.

#7 Get punny. Ah yes, how can we forget the famous pun? Puns are a great form of wordplay. It makes people think about the joke. They need to be sharp to catch the joke. Mind you, puns only do well if the other person is into the topic. If not, you may get a blank stare. So, make sure if you're going to use a pun, the person gets what you're talking about.

#8 Sarcasm. In my personal opinion, sarcasm is the highest level of humor. It takes a sharp mind to smartly tease people. The only thing is to be careful that the other person doesn't find your sarcasm offensive. It's a great tool if you know how to use it.

#9 Use the awkward moment. Who hasn't experienced an awkward moment? We all have. Though they're uncomfortable, these moments are great opportunities to crack a joke. Laughing when you're not supposed to can make it even funnier. Awkward moment? It's time to laugh! Use your own embarrassing moments for your benefit.

#10 Be understated. You don't need to crack actual full-on jokes to make someone laugh. You can use a bad action or event as your opening to slip in an understated joke. Did your friend put on foundation that's a little too dark? That's fine, it just adds some color to her face!

#11 Are you good at impressions? Not all of us can pull this off, but if you can, you'll be a hit at parties. Impressions are a great way to make someone laugh. Can you do a great Christopher Walken? Robert Di Niro? If you nail these quotes, everyone will be on the floor laughing. That's what you wanted right?

#12 Practical joke. If you're not great with verbal humor, then why not play a practical joke on someone? Put a whoopee cushion under their seat cushion; cover their toilet seat with plastic wrap; sneak up on them. These practical jokes are harmless and will get a chuckle out of them.

If knowing how to make someone laugh seems hard to you, find what makes you feel the most comfortable. The more relaxed you are when telling a joke, the more likely they'll laugh.