Not everyone is born with a natural sense of humour, but some people take life so seriously that they don’t even realise how much fun they’re missing out on.
If you find yourself constantly annoyed by jokes, struggling to see the funny side of things, or treating every situation like a serious debate, you might be in need of a humour reset. Life’s too short to be miserable all the time. Here are a few warning signs you have no sense of humour and desperately need to chill out a bit.
1. You take jokes personally, even when they’re harmless.
If every joke feels like a personal attack, chances are you’re missing the humour in it. Not every playful comment is meant to insult you, and most jokes aren’t that deep. People with a good sense of humour can laugh at themselves—those without one assume every joke is about them. Taking things too seriously all the time can make social situations exhausting, both for you and for the people around you. If your first instinct is to feel offended rather than amused, it might be time to relax a little and remember that not everything is meant to be taken to heart.
2. You roll your eyes at people who joke around.
If you constantly find yourself annoyed by people who are having fun, that’s a red flag. A good sense of humour means being able to enjoy the moment, not acting like a grumpy critic every time someone tries to lighten the mood. Eye-rolling at jokes, funny stories, or even just playful banter makes you come across as overly serious. If everyone around you is laughing and you’re the only one looking unimpressed, maybe the problem isn’t them—it’s you.
3. You think sarcasm is rude, not funny.
Some people love sarcasm, others don’t get it, and then there are those who take it as a personal insult every time. If you’re in the last group, you probably struggle to appreciate dry humour or witty comebacks. While sarcasm can sometimes be used in a mean way, most of the time, it’s just playful teasing. If you always take it the wrong way, you might be missing out on a whole layer of humour that makes conversations more entertaining.
4. You don’t laugh at yourself.
People with a good sense of humour know how to laugh at their own mistakes. If you’re someone who takes themselves too seriously, you probably find it difficult to admit when something you’ve done is actually funny. No one is perfect, and pretending otherwise just makes life harder. Being able to laugh at your own embarrassing moments, silly mistakes, or awkward situations makes you far more enjoyable to be around — and a lot less stressed.
5. You always need jokes to be “intelligent” to find them funny.
If you only laugh at highly intellectual, perfectly structured comedy, you might be overthinking humour. Not every joke needs to be deep, clever, or perfectly crafted; sometimes, things are just funny because they’re ridiculous. People who need every joke to be highbrow often miss out on the simple joy of dumb humour. A well-timed silly joke, a funny face, or even an absurd situation can be just as hilarious as an intelligent punchline. If you refuse to enjoy a bit of banter, you’re limiting your own fun.
6. You hate pranks and think they’re childish.
Sure, some pranks can be mean, but most are harmless fun. If the idea of a simple practical joke annoys you or makes you roll your eyes, you might be lacking a playful side. People with a sense of humour can appreciate harmless pranks, even if they’re on the receiving end. If you get irrationally upset over something as small as a whoopee cushion or a joke that caught you off guard, it might be time to lighten up.
7. You get annoyed when people laugh at something you don’t find funny.
If you ever find yourself thinking, “I don’t see what’s so funny,” while everyone else is cracking up, that’s a sign you might be out of touch with humour. Not everything needs to be personally funny to you for other people to enjoy it. Being around laughter and joy should be uplifting, not irritating. If you can’t stand when other people find humour in things you don’t, you’re not just missing out on fun — you’re actively stopping yourself from enjoying life more.
8. You treat everything like a debate.
Ever been in a laid-back conversation where someone makes a joke, and instead of laughing, you start dissecting it like it’s a political argument? If you can’t let a joke just be a joke, you’re probably taking life way too seriously. Not every funny comment is meant to spark a serious discussion. Sometimes, things are just said for the sake of fun. If you’re the person who always turns a joke into an intellectual analysis, you might need to take a step back and just enjoy the moment.
9. You struggle with comedy movies and stand-up.
Some people love a good comedy film or stand-up special, while other people sit there stone-faced, wondering why everyone else is laughing. If you’re the latter, it might be a sign you struggle to relax and let yourself enjoy humour. Of course, not every comedy is for everyone, but if you consistently find yourself bored by anything funny, you might need to question whether your expectations are too high, or if you just don’t know how to let go and have fun.
10. People hesitate to joke around you.
If you’ve noticed that people avoid making jokes around you, it might be because they’re worried about your reaction. No one likes being the person who kills the vibe, but if people stop joking in your presence, you might be doing exactly that. When people feel like they have to be overly serious around you, it’s usually a sign that your energy doesn’t allow for playfulness. If you want to be more fun to be around, try embracing the jokes instead of shutting them down.
11. You always assume people are being mean when they’re joking.
If you interpret every joke as an insult, you’re probably reading too much into things. Light teasing, playful banter, and even self-deprecating humour aren’t meant to be taken so seriously. People with a good sense of humour understand that jokes aren’t always deep. If you constantly assume there’s a hidden agenda behind every funny comment, you might be missing the whole point of humour.
12. You can’t stand dad jokes or puns.
Not every joke has to be groundbreaking. Sometimes, a simple pun or a classic dad joke is enough to make people smile. If you hear a silly joke and your first instinct is to groan rather than laugh, you might be a little too serious. Jokes don’t have to be edgy or complex to be funny. If you can’t enjoy a lighthearted pun every now and then, you’re depriving yourself of an easy way to add a bit of laughter to your day.
13. You take memes way too literally.
Memes aren’t meant to be factual statements — they’re jokes. If you regularly find yourself arguing with a meme or pointing out why it’s “inaccurate,” you might be missing the point of internet humour entirely. Not everything has to be logical or make perfect sense to be funny. If you treat every joke like a fact that needs correcting, you’re sucking the fun out of the simplest form of modern humour.
14. You struggle to have fun in general.
At the end of the day, humour is just one part of an overall ability to enjoy life. If you find it hard to relax, have fun, or see the light side of things, it’s probably affecting more than just your sense of humour. Learning to lighten up doesn’t mean forcing yourself to laugh at everything; it just means being open to finding joy in everyday moments. If you rarely find yourself laughing or enjoying the fun side of life, maybe it’s time to make a conscious effort to change that.
