Yet humor is important. It can sustain us and help us cope during challenging times. For me, though, I usually contacted my advisor during times of stress and confusion about the university bureacracy or challenge with technology. A sense of urgency typically surrounded my seeking advisor help, and I would not have welcomed levity. During those times, I needed help—not humor. Laughing at something funny was the last thing I needed or wanted–especially communicated via email. Don’t get me wrong–the first faculty development conference I ever organized at my home institution focused on humor. I titled the conference, “Taking Humor Seriously.”

Having a relationship, knowing the advisee, too, would help foster an environment that may be conducive to humor. An advisor who knows his or her advisees would be in a better positon to judge if an advisee would be open to humor or just interested in getting the question answered or problem rectified.

I learned the power of humor many years ago when in the midst of a tense situation, laughter exploded. The tension was broken and an attitude adjustment could occur … that simple shift made a resolution possible.

I’m not saying that we need to yuck it up all the time; there are moments when humor is the most appropriate expression and those moments need to be celebrated.