Feelin’ Groovy

There I sat, in a slump. Literally. I was slumping in my chair as I sat working, skimming quickly through my Google reader, brain on airplane mode, feeling the afternoon slump brought on by the magic hour of 3:30 on humid and sunny Friday.

I had no interest in work. But I had things to do. I clicked the icon for iTunes and hit “shuffle.”

“You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” by Leo Sayer was the first tune that came up. And you know what? Suddenly I felt a little like dancing. My neurons started firing on all cylinders and I sat up in my chair. 

I had to skip the next song, “Paradise City,” by Guns ‘N Roses. It just wasn’t the right mood. But soon I found my groove, tapped my foot and the ideas began flowing.

Studies have shown that listening to music can make you happier and more productive.
So next time you need can’t seem to get centered and get work done, press “play.”

Here are a few ways to try it: 

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go: What’s your favorite song -- the one that always puts a smile on your face? If you have an alarm clock that allows you to insert a CD or mp3 player, set it to that. Or find the only radio station not talking in the morning. Try to make it upbeat, and you might find that you’re moving through your morning routine a little more easily.

Lunch break-it-down: Instead of eating at your desk, hunched over a computer, or scarfing down fast food in your car, why not find someplace pleasant to sit and listen to some upbeat music while you nosh? If you’re feeling brave, you might even stand up and shake it out a bit with a dance. It’s good for the digestion and you’ll come back from your break feeling more refreshed and ready to work.

Afternoon Shake, Rattle and Roll: Classical may not always your first choice, but studies show that its rhythms can help motivate you to be more productive and think more clearly. It’s also not likely to be offensive to your cube mates if played on lower volumes.

Dinnertime Dance: The kids are home, full of energy or doing homework and you’re busy making dinner, sorting through mail and dealing with 100 other things. Why not lighten it up and dance your way through the tasks with a little fun music. Your children might even quiet down and join in.

Have you ever used music to help you get things done?