What I listen to, depending on what's on fire.
I'm a huge music lover. Not in a vinyl-collection, know-every-B-side way. In a “there's a soundtrack for everything I do” way.
At some point I noticed I wasn't just listening to music while I worked. I was using it to switch modes. Lofi when I needed to think. Something with a beat when I needed to power through a to-do list. Something loud and a little ridiculous in the five minutes before a big meeting.
So I did what any ops person would do. I made it a system.
Why the tempo matters (at least for me)
I'm not a scientist, and your brain might be wired differently. But here's what works for me:
- Thinking work gets slow and wordless. If I'm writing or reading, lyrics compete with the words in my head. Slow, steady instrumentals just sit in the background.
- Doing work gets a steady beat. Clearing a backlog or updating a tracker? Something around a brisk walking pace keeps me moving.
- Easy work gets songs I already know. Inbox and Slack don't need much brainpower, so familiar feel-good songs keep the mood up.
The playlists
- deep_work.exe (70–90 bpm). Lofi and ambient for writing, planning, and anything that starts with a blank page.
- sprint mode (118–128 bpm). Electronic momentum for clearing the backlog and knocking out tickets.
- unread (47) (95–110 bpm). Easy feel-good songs for catching up on Slack and email.
- walk-on music (100–120 bpm). Two songs before a big meeting. Shoulders back.
- sev 1, stay calm (85–105 bpm). Calm instrumentals for when everything's on fire and I can't be.
- out of office (almost) (118–130 bpm). The last day before vacation. Handover doc done, auto-reply on.
- re-entry protocol (80–100 bpm). The first morning back, while I read 300 emails.
- after bedtime (60–85 bpm). Kids asleep, laptop open, one more thing.
- ship it friday (105–125 bpm). Disco and funk for Friday afternoon. You earned it.
They all live on the Standups & Snacktime Spotify profile. Follow it and you'll see new ones as they land, or browse them all with covers on the playlists page.
What's missing? Tell me the one song you always put on to get through a hard day. Leave me a note and it might end up on a playlist.