Need to Fight the Afternoon Slump? Try Music

We’ve all been there you’re at work, and every ounce of productive energy has escaped you. You’re staring at the wall, the clock, literally anything in hopes it will speed up the time. Every minute feels like a lifetime. If only there was a way to escape this dreary reality?

One thing that saved me working in the office was listening to music. Something about listening to my favorite songs would revive me. But was this just all happening in my head, or is there science to back this up? After some Google searching, I was happy to discover that I’m not actually going crazy that science has linked music to improved productivity and stress relief.

“In the context of work, background music (including the widely researched classical genre) has been found to improve our performance on cognitive tasks, such as spatial or verbal ability tests, for short periods of time. My own research has shown that music is a powerful emotional regulation tool, and a recent meta-analysis found that music therapy is an effective way to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety”
Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2022, September 13). Can music make you more productive?. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/09/can-music-make-you-more-productive

Now that we understand the productivity benefits of music, how about exploring some killer playlists?

Sidenote: Has anyone taken a look at their Spotify Wrapped? I’m always unsure what to expect because I go through so many music phases throughout the year. Surprisingly, this year’s top songs were instrumentals; it caught me off guard. Anyways, give these Spotify playlists a try to conquer any work task!

For the Data Cruncher

Charts and Excel are your besties, but let’s get real – dealing with loads of information requires some musical assistance. Traditionally, classical tunes have earned the favor of science, but if you’re in the mood for a rhythmic boost, lo-fi is a great alternative.

For Classical Vibes 🎻

For Cinematic Vibes 🎬

For Lo-fi Vibes 🎧

For the Creative

You’re all about finding inspiration, the next big idea, or creation! Did you know music can also help get your creative juices flowing? Spotify and a group of researchers discovered that higher tempo music helps put the brain in the Alpha state, which slows our brain activity, making room for imagination .

For Indie Vibes ☀️

For Acoustic Vibes 🎤

For Chill Vibes 🎶

For the Anxious Worker

Deadlines, meetings, and the never-ending supply of work. Talk about stress. While music can’t take your work away, it can relax your mind and body. It’s been found that music can reduce blood pressure, heart rate and even calm your central nervous system. Talk about impact! Researchers recommend slow music like calming instrumental or nature sounds.

For Nature Vibes 🥬

For Spa Vibes ♨️

For Mellow Instrumental Vibes 🎹

For the Hustler

You’ve got places to go, sights to see, all while running on empty. An espresso might be in hand, but boosting up with your favorite jams is a must. Listening to your cherished music is the ultimate way to uplift your mood! Additionally, any of those high-energy genres like pop, rock, or EDM are sure to give you the wake-up call you need!

For Dance Vibes 💃

For the Throwback Vibes ⏪

For Happy Vibes 🌞

Want to read more about the power of music? Check the articles I read for this blog👇

Thank you for reading this blog! I hope you found it interesting, and perhaps you discovered a new playlist to try. Please feel free to comment below and share your go-to songs or playlists. I’d love to hear how you conquer the afternoon slump!