Sometimes, life can be about as funny as accidentally sitting on a big wad of bubble gum.

How we respond to these "sticky" events in our lives — many of which gum up the works at our places of employment — ultimately affects our stress level and overall health.

This is just one metaphor that author Nan Crockett Rutter uses to show that the answer to your misery might just be a giggle, guffaw, chortle, chuckle or snicker away.

Laughter and humor have been overlooked as tools to alleviate the extraordinary amount of stress that workers are experiencing today, Rutter said. In her new book, "Breakaway Laughter: How to Lighten Up Despite It All" (VanderWyk & Burnham, $12.95), she teaches how to lighten up about life.

Rutter, president of Rutter Communications, said learning to laugh at work is a win-win situation for workers and employers. It can greatly reduce job stress, which costs U.S. companies about $300 billion annually as a result of accidents, absenteeism, employee turnover, diminished productivity and other losses, according to the American Institute of Stress.

We asked Rutter how to bring humor to the job:

Q: What's the connection between laughter and work?

A: Laughter not only has health benefits — it increases blood flow, which can directly counter potential heart problems — it also counters the impact of stress. So if people are laughing, their bodies are releasing endorphins, which will help them function more effectively.

Q: What are the most common stressors for workers?

A: Probably people are most stressed out that they're being asked to do more with less. ... People are doing more with less in companies to remain competitive. I hear a lot of concern that people are just overloaded.

Q: What can managers do?

A: People find it difficult if the culture doesn't support laughter. This is why I think it's very important to work with management on the benefits of laughter in the workplace.

Q: What are the most interesting strategies that managers have used?

A: One of my clients actually has a game on their intranet so that the staff can periodically play a computer game for five minutes. ... For small bits of time, the company is allowing them to decrease those stress levels (and) come back to work to the job at hand refreshed.

Reach Dawn Sagario at The Des Moines Register, P.O. Box 957, Des Moines, IA 50304-0957.