A proposal writer needs a sense of humour. The bid management process can be quite funny at times. Although it may not seem like it, when a proposal writer is struggling to juggle all their tasks and meet deadlines, there are a number of things which are worth laughing about, after the event. One of the funniest things which any group of proposal writers discuss is the content provided by subject matter experts which needs re-writing, or the language offered to us through ITTs and RFPs.

The fact is, in any stressful situation a bit of humour can go a long way to relieve tension and gain a sense of perspective. When the harried proposal writer is in the middle of a complex project, laughing can be the last thing on their mind. However, sometimes we all need to let go of worries and lend ourselves to a good belly laugh, and the proposal writing field is no exception.

Humour serves a number of purposes. It can dispel anxieties by giving the proposal writer a way of discussing issues in a light-hearted way, sharing anecdotes and enabling the proposal writing team to gain a strong sense of perspective about things which may not have gone according to plan. When a team are working together at optimum capacity, it can lead to tensions and problems which are all brought to the surface through the difficulties at the time, and sometimes it needs a good laugh to dispel the atmosphere.

It may seem unlikely, but laughter can actually bring a proposal writer a wealth of physical and emotional benefits. The following advantages show why every proposal writer worth their salt needs to give up their stress in favour of a good belly laugh when things get tough...

• Laughter relaxes the body, and a good laugh relieves the symptoms of physical tension and stress, leaving all the muscles in the body more calm and relaxed for almost one hour after the laughing started
• Laughter is scientifically proven to boost the immune system, by decreasing stress hormones and increasing the immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, improving resistance to disease
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins support the promotion of a strong sense of well-being and can actually work to temporarily relieve pain
• Laughter protects the heart, by improving the function of blood vessels and increasing blood flow, which can help protect against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.