Trust me, this will be the shortest article you come across all day.

Being a writer myself, I know how listicles elicit immediate eye-rolling from everyone as an overdone, died-off form of headline reader clickbait, but stick with me here. As a photographer the last 14 years, I've battled all sorts of creative ruts, depression, self-sabotage, doubts, toxic relationships, and changing careers. Point being; I've been there and know how it feels being told 'Follow these steps and be cured!'

We all know it's not that easy, but these things helped me and hopefully can help you. And as we all know, every little bit helps.

Routine Productivity
One thing I learned in my early 20's, has helped me tremendously: make your bed. Every morning by properly making your bed, you start off your day by crushing one productive task. Good job, now keep going.
Exercise
We all know the clear benefits to working out, but I've always found that getting a workout in got me out of the house and gave me the energy to tackle multiple errands and tasks I'd otherwise put off.
Crying
May seem silly, but you have to let it out. A good hard, Claire Danes cry face session helps you face the emotion and pain, but then wipe off your face and get back to work.
Filler Jobs
Slow winters (along with seasonal depression) always made me seek part-time filler jobs NOT creative in nature; working at gyms, being a production assistant, etc. They help get me out of the house, feeling productive, and establishing a routine.
Practicing Daily Gratitude
When you're in a depressive state, it's really easy to lose sight of all the good things in your life. Even if you feel like you've got nothing remember, you're alive and that's something to celebrate.

It's no secret - music makes everything better. But does it make you a better creative?

Often times we find ourselves surrounded by 'noise' - blaring car horns, loud talkers, espresso machines, people cursing at the copy machine, even the hum of complete silence. It can be hard to escape sure, but the one way 99.9% of people do escape the craziness of everyday life is through music. So it should be no surprise that it's a big part of every creatives' life.

The reasoning behind unplugging from the world and surrounding yourself with music varies as much as the layout of a snowflake. We listen to up-beat music to get us psyched up for a workout, a big game, or even a nerve-racking interview. We listen to soothing music when we want to un-wind or plug into the introspective part of our day.

Music has a very unique way, much like smells, of instantly transport us back to a specific moment in our lives whether it was a fun road-trip with a best friend or even a sad time after a big blowout with a significant other. Not many things can claim that kind of power over the human mind - except maybe Charles Xavier.

Music time-travel, referred to as an anchor, is not necessarily a secret, but what is really fascinating is when a specific song can actually create a detailed, intricate mood-board in your head; something you suddenly long to create + bring to life. While on a four hour road-trip across PA from Pittsburgh to home in Philadelphia, I found myself listening to the same 3 minute song for the entire drive. Let me repeat that, I listened to the same 3 minute song on repeat for four hours straight. Reason being, I simply found myself haunted by the instrumental melody with no lyrics whatsoever, letting my mind fill in the blank space with a screenplay for a whole four minute short film - one that I've story-boarded with friends but admittedly am still sitting on to find the right creatives to make that personal project happen; since everyone needs a personal project every now + then, right? :)

"Music is one of the greatest ways to enter 'mind-wandering mode', which can unlock creativity."
- Daniel J. Levitin

For a lot of us this isn't shocking - many creatives will link their inspiration for a certain piece/project/company back to all kinds of other creative mediums; such as movies, songs, photographs, paintings, documentaries, etc. With that in mind, it's important to note that depending on what you're working on really drives what kind of music you listen to.

That brings up a great piece by Content Strategist, Greg Ciotti, where he put together this informative list:

Music for Immersive Tasks: What Works?

Although “music that you like” should be given preference, most people have a fairly wide range of tastes, so using a certain type of music just for work isn’t out of the question.

Below we’ll cover a few proven styles, why they work, and where you can find more examples.

Classical music (Baroque)

Why it works

Lacking in lyrics and often considered the finest form of the craft, classical music is a popular choice. One study made it clear that Baroque-period tunes have a measurable impact on productivity.

However, not all classical music is created equal—the dramatic twists and turns of Toccata & Fugue in D minor might not be as appropriate as the more delicate sounds of Für Elise.

Where to Listen

Reddit thread, “I’m new to classical music, where should I begin?”
Freely licensed files on Wikipedia
Reddit’s r/ Baroque music
Classical music for exams on Spotify
Pandora’s Baroque station

Examples

Two very long collections below, there are obviously many, others.

Electronic music

Why it works

Ambient electronica tends to fit our need for present but unobtrusive. As a genre it’s repetitive, but in a good way.

Unlike the ups and downs of a symphonic piece, there are quite a few producers who aim to create “soundscapes” (anyone remember Gabe from The Office?), which emphasize a few select melodies that build on each other.

The song’s focus can help your focus, as the repeating tones won’t be disruptive.

Where to listen

Examples

Two quick examples from Vanilla and Ambinate.

Video-game music

Why it works

Game composers know that the ideal music for many situations is music that enhances the experience while not distracting the player.

One of the most popular suggestions of all time on Reddit for “music that helps with concentration” was the SimCity soundtrack, which makes perfect sense. Maxis designed the music to be enjoyable, but subdued enough that it wouldn’t zap focus from the many things you needed to do to keep your city running.

Where to listen

OverClocked Remix (remixes of popular themes)
VGMusic.com
Reddit’s r/GameMusic

Examples

I grabbed two quick examples from Skyrim and SimCity 5.

“Everything else”

Why it works

Anything soft enough to not divert attention and focus is a possibility for your potential playlist—different strokes for different folks.

If vocals don’t bug you during work, give them a go.

Jazz, hip-hop, indie rock, blues, and everything else is up for grabs, remembering that “ambient” is the word of the day for engrossing work.

Where to listen

Examples

I really enjoy oldies for work, as they often have a softer tone.

No music (ambient noise)

If you’ve had enough of these kids and their “newfangled dub steps,” fear not—sometimes the sweet sound of silence is the most fitting of all.

But for many people, total silence is off-putting. There are two useful tools you can use to fix this:

SimplyNoise — Playing a low pitch white noise in the background can be a lifesaver if something in your environment is being uncontrollably loud (such as construction work).
RainyMood — Work like it’s drizzling outside even when it’s 90° F and the sun is shining. This plays a loop of a mild storm; turn on a fireplace video and you can get seriously cozy.

Read the entire article here: How Music Affects Your Productivity