14 Ideas for a Cross-Cultural-Stress-Busting Laugh Break

A good belly laugh does wonders, and it’s even better when you share it with the people who were stepping on your last nerve just moments ago. But when you’re sailing on the S.S. Crankypants, it’s tough to think of anything humorous. So, here’s a quick list of ideas to try.

Cross-cultural stress is a real thing. Sometimes you don’t even notice that the language mishaps, the broken light fixture than no one can seem to fix, the surprise of finding a rat on your balcony, and the market inexplicably being out of garlic AGAIN have added up to one big stress ball. You’re suddenly annoyed at everything and everyone. And guess what? Everyone else in your household is probably feeling the same level of irritation.

Maybe it’s time for a laugh break! A good belly laugh does wonders, and it’s even better when you share it with the people who were stepping on your last nerve just moments ago. But when you’re sailing on the S.S. Crankypants, it’s tough to think of anything humorous. So, here’s a quick list of ideas to try. Go ahead, take a few minutes to laugh. The rat will still be there later. (Sorry.)

If You Live in a Place with Good Internet

Have everyone share two or three memes that made them LOL.

Ask your smartphone or smart speaker to tell you a joke. Be prepared to groan.

Watch something funny on YouTube. Cat videos, FailArmy, and Studio C are good places to start. There are even “try not to laugh challenges” out there!

Low Tech

Watch a funny movie. Stupid funny might be your best best. You don't want anything that requires too much brain power!

Living room dance-off. (Apologies to the downstairs neighbors.)

Lip sync battle. Mom and Dad can BRING the 80s and 90s hits.

Make a video of yourself doing something normal—brushing your teeth, making a sandwich, packing stuff into a purse or backpack—but have another person standing behind you be your “arms.” Even funnier is having a third person supply your ongoing monologue while you try to mouth along to what they’re saying.

No Tech

Play “if you loved me, you’d smile.” One person tries to keep a total poker face while everyone else takes turns trying to make them crack a smile or even laugh by saying “if you loved me, you’d smile” and doing something silly.

Reminisce about your funniest faux pas or language bloopers.

Teach your kids Ibes/Ibs, Pig Latin, or a similar “language.”

Make up your own MadLibs style story. It could be something that has actually happened to your family, or something unrelated. Give it a silly title, like “The Petersons’ Epic Clogged Toilet Battle!” Ask the rest of your family to supply the nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, then read the finished story out loud.

Have everyone write a crazy question on a slip of paper. Take turns asking your question. Everyone else writes their answer, then the group tries to guess whose answer is whose. Best with a big group. A few questions to get you started: “What’s the worst thing you could find inside your shoe?” “What’s the stinkiest thing you’ve ever smelled?” “What’s the most uncomfortable thing to wear?”

See who can correctly say a tongue twister the fastest.

Choose a victim. The rest of you contsruct an elaborate outfit for them out of toilet paper.

One of those ideas is bound to get you and everyone else laughing, and to get that stress busted. And once you’re feeling better, you can go deal with the clogged toilet and the balcony rat with a smile on your face. Or something like that.

What else? Help us all out by adding your ideas in the comments section. We could all use a good laugh!