Less than two weeks before the Star Tribune filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, Tribune reporter Thomas Lee wrote a piece about how humor can help dispel the office blues. Lee offers some helpful advice that’s worth repeating during these difficult times in the news industry.
Moments that might otherwise bring people down, Lee says, can be turned into moments that make people laugh. He cautions, though, against mean-spirited humor, which can be “demoralizing” and “counterproductive.”
Humor doesn’t just work by itself; it usually needs to be paired with action. Even small efforts can help relieve stress. I know several colleagues, for instance, who read comic strips daily to get a laugh or two.
When we feel threatened by the economy and job losses, we tend to retreat and isolate ourselves. This can exacerbate the situation and cause us to think negative thoughts that keep us in a tailspin. Instead of retreating, we should still network, send out resumes and e-mails, and make those critical phone calls that connect us to others on a regular basis. And, as Lee advises, we should “get a life,” as in “find a hobby, exercise, go to church, bowl, date, volunteer and hang out with friends.”
Humor won’t get rid of newsroom woes, but it can help.
