To not laugh in serious situations, some effective strategies include taking deep breaths to calm yourself, focusing your attention on something neutral or bland in the room, and mentally postponing the laughter to a later time when it is appropriate. Having a trusted friend nearby to help ground you, like with a calming touch, can also help control laughter. Writing down your urge to laugh as a way to acknowledge and delay it may work as well. If laughing becomes overwhelming, discreetly excusing yourself to a private space to release the laughter is a healthy way to handle it without disrupting the serious moment.

Additional ways to maintain composure involve practicing mindfulness and meditation, focusing on deep breathing to reduce anxiety, and preparing mentally by reflecting on the importance of the situation. Developing resilience and acceptance of the situation can also help maintain a serious demeanor by redirecting your energy to what you can control instead of reacting emotionally.