While most people can appreciate a good joke, some are naturally better at delivering them than others. And those with a knack for humor often enjoy plenty of social perks—they can appear more attractive, competent, and confident, and even have the potential to become stronger leaders. It’s clearly a valuable skill, but can it be taught?
The answer is yes, you can learn to be funny, or funnier. In fact, it’s less about learning to be funny and more about rediscovering your natural humor. That’s because as many of us step into adulthood—around the age of 23—we tend to lose it. According to a 2013 Gallup survey of 1.4 million people across 166 countries, that’s when our frequency of laughing or smiling each day takes a noticeable dive.
That decline, often called the “humor cliff,” is explored by behavioral science professor Jennifer Aaker and leadership coach Naomi Bagdonas in their book Humor, Seriously. As they explain, the drop is likely tied to work and the demands of adulthood.
“We grow up, enter the workforce, and suddenly become ‘serious and important people,’ trading laughter for ties and pantsuits,” the authors write. “Before long, we lose levity entirely in a sea of bottom lines, slide decks, and mind-numbing conference calls.”
This makes sense when you consider how carefree and happy-go-lucky we are as children, and as we grow older, that lightheartedness becomes a luxury many can’t afford. The average 4-year-old, Aaker and Bagdonas write, laughs around 300 times a day. Meanwhile, the average 40-year-old would need about two and a half months to reach that many chuckles.
But of course, with enough practice, we can learn to let go again and become funnier. Comedian and founder of Copy POP, Jill Pavlov, believes it’s entirely possible. “Everyone has a secret funny bone hidden inside them!” she told Bored Panda. “Start with funny things you hear or see. What made you laugh about it? How can you relay that to others? Then look inward—what about yourself can you poke a little fun at?”
“Some of the best comedy comes from comparisons and metaphors,” Pavlov explains. “For example, if you were going to roast your love life, try filling in this sentence: ‘My love life is like ________ because _______.’ You could say something like, ‘My love life is like Blockbuster—closed for business.’”
“Keep experimenting! Try your material on close friends. If they laugh, you’re golden. If they just blink at you, congratulations—you’ve identified what not to do. Remember, even if you bomb, you’re still funnier than someone who never tries.”
