Music for Productivity & Well-being: 5 Mood-Enhancing Playlists
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Music serves as a powerful catalyst that fuels daily work and life, significantly impacting mood, focus, and overall well-being. Especially during challenging times, music acts as a vital backdrop to the workday, helping individuals navigate various tasks and emotional states. The Glantz team demonstrates this by curating five distinct, mood-enhancing playlists—Spark of Serotonin, Focus Mode, Zoom Out, Uncover the Unknown, and Mic Drop—each tailored to specific needs like boosting optimism or aiding concentration. These selections highlight how different musical genres can be strategically employed to support productivity and mental health throughout the day.
Five mood-enhancing playlists to get you through just about anything…including a pandemic.
It’s been said by many that music is not only the soundtrack of our lives, but also the backdrop to our work day.
Whether you work outside, in a warehouse, behind the wheel or at a desk, music is often the fuel that gets you through the day.
We’ve enjoyed getting to know our teammates by what they choose to play when they are DJ for a day in the office. But because we are DJ’s of our home offices now, (and because 2020 is proving to be the longest year EVER) we decided we could all use some help curating a new soundtrack to your day.
Depending on your mood or your task, you need a different beat. Below are five different playlists that you can download for free on Spotify.
What are you in need of? OPTIMISM FOCUS A BREAK PERSPECTIVE WOW
What Music Boosts Optimism and Lifts Spirits? (Spark of Serotonin Playlist)
The 'Spark of Serotonin' playlist is curated by the Glantz team to boost optimism and lift spirits, especially during challenging times like shorter winter days or prolonged COVID-19 precautions. This selection helps find your inner cheerleader and embrace lightness through music, featuring tracks like Nas’s “I Can” to inspire and energize.
Let’s dig deep and find our inner cheerleader even when it’s harder than ever. Let’s embrace the opportunity to pay forward lightness and optimism through music. At Glantz Design, when we need to lift our spirits, this is what our team listens to.
Shout out to Nas’s “I Can”
“Love the contrast between the kids’ chorus and Nas’s echo “I know I can be what I wanna be.”
Anne Weber, resident serotonin expert as our Chief Operating and Client Happiness Officer
Album #2: Focus Mode
We all have those moments where procrastination got the best of us or to do lists get extremely long. The next theme is FOCUS MODE. For when you really need to go “heads down” and crank out some work. From jam bands to some seriously inspiring lyrics, we’ve got you covered.
Shout out to Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself:
“Its often a long JAM and you can get a lot done before it’s over—Not the studio version, but a live one.”
Keith Glantz, President, Chief Creative Officer, and focused Founder of Glantz Design
What Music Helps You Disconnect and De-stress? (Zoom Out Playlist)
The 'Zoom Out' playlist is specially curated to help you disconnect and de-stress after numerous video calls, encouraging you to close your laptop and take a break. This playlist aims to 'Zoom Out' from work, though productivity may decrease. It features upbeat tracks like Chance the Rapper’s “Ballin and Flossin” and Of Montreal’s “Grolantic Edit” to energize and provide a mental break.
Shout out to Chance the Rapper’s, “Ballin and Flossin”
“Not only is this song super fun and upbeat, it calls out our home in Chicago”
Rachel Gilles, pianist, ukulelist, and Client Engagement Associate
Shout out to Of Montreal’s “Grolantic Edit”
“This has long been my go-to ‘get ready’ song. In college, I was getting ready to go out; now, I use it in between meetings to get energized for the next Zoom.”
Holly Leach, Associate Creative Director who in college was pretty pretentious about her indie rock
What Music Helps You Discover New Gems and Gain New Perspectives? (Uncover the Unknown Playlist)
The 'Uncover the Unknown' playlist is a collection of little-known musical gems designed to offer a breath of fresh air, a shift from the mundane, or a new perspective. This playlist serves as a muse when you need to discover something new and indulge yourself, featuring tracks like Mulata Astatke’s “Tezeta (Nostalgia)” for a dreamy, nostalgic experience.
This album, entitled “Uncover the Unknown”, is a great list to share, and also a great list to indulge in yourself. When you need a breath of fresh air, a shift from the mundane, or a new perspective, this list will be your muse. Enjoy.
Shout out to Mulata Astatke’s, “Tezeta (Nostalgia)”
“This is jazz I feel like I can listen to, and doesn’t feel too stuffy. The trumpet makes the song dream like, and helps me drift to sweet memories.”
Conner Brown, Account Manager
What Music Delivers a Powerful, Mind-Blowing Impact? (Mic Drop Playlist)
The 'Mic Drop' playlist is curated from our creative souls to deliver a powerful, mind-blowing impact, going beyond smart and strategic communications. This final playlist aims to 'blow someone’s mind' with its selections, featuring tracks like The Talking Heads’ “Burning down the house” to fire you up and leave a lasting impression.
Shout out to The Talking Head’s “Burning down the house”
“This song never fails to fire me up (pun intended)”
Jessica Bleiweis, Account Manager