April Fools’ Day carries a serious message: The huge importance of humor in the social sector is no joke!

Humor is a great way to connect with co-workers as well as have some fun in the midst of working so hard. In the social sector we wrestle with very serious, complex, sometimes abstract issues. But even Superman and Superwoman took breaks from saving the world! Humor lets us step back, get a bit of perspective, refresh our hearts and souls, and be able to return to our tasks with a clearer head.

See what some in the nonprofit sector have to joke about:

1) Nonprofit Humor: This website claims to be the world’s only fundraising comedy site. It includes funny, fictional stories for the nonprofit world.

2) The Chronicle of Philanthropy Cartoons: If you read this newspaper, you already know about the cartoons that often get us laughing (or sighing). Many are by Mark Litzler, whose cartoons also grace the pages of “Writing to Make a Difference.”

Speaking of the humor found in my book, a few of my favorite bits are:

“The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.” — Robert Cromier

How much humor do you bring to your workplace? Does it make a difference in your working relationships? (Leave a comment below with your thoughts.)

Most people find that humor creates an easy exchange of conversation that you might not ordinarily have. But make sure the jokes are appropriate! (Check this out.)

So today, joke away and laugh it up! You may be happy with the results (or at least get in a couple more smiles).