Lindsey Pangretic

I recently read about a concept called “just one song,” which is a method where you turn on music and see what you can accomplish in your home while listening to “just one song.”

The idea is that you can be motivated to do one quick project or chore before the song ends. And it also proves that you don’t need much time to tackle small projects around your home.

When I organize my home or a client’s home, the first thing I do is put in my AirPods and decide which playlist I’m going to listen to. I’m a big lover of music—and gravitate toward many different genres, depending on my mood.

When I’m cooking dinner after a long day, there’s something so soothing and relaxing about 1950s/60s soul, like Odis Redding and Sam Cooke.

When I’m working at a client’s house on a large project all day, I might turn on 90s hip-hop to keep me awake and motivated until the job is completed. It’s not uncommon to find me dancing while organizing!

There’s something powerful about listening to the right song and suddenly feeling ready to tackle the mess around you. Music has a unique way of shifting our mood, energizing our bodies, and turning ordinary tasks into something enjoyable. If organizing ever feels overwhelming or boring, music could be the motivation you need.

Music Reduces Stress and Decision Fatigue

Organizing doesn’t have to feel like punishment. Instead of seeing it as another item on your to-do list, music can turn it into a personal ritual. When paired with music, even folding laundry or clearing countertops can become calming and satisfying.

Organizing also often requires constant decisions, which is why a lot of my clients hire me. I help them make decisions such as

• Keep or donate?
• Store or toss?
• What belongs where?

That mental load can feel draining. Music can help reduce stress and make the process feel less intense. Familiar songs can be comforting, while calming instrumentals can help you focus.

When your mind feels supported, decisions become easier. My children are also motivated by music! I love getting my family involved in spring cleaning or a post-holiday purge. We turn music on throughout the house, and it instantly makes the job more fun.

Let Your Playlist Match the Space

Different spaces may call for a different vibe, and I have Spotify playlists depending on what I’m working on. Music can be therapeutic, and the right soundtrack can set the tone for the space you’re working in.

• Kitchen reset: upbeat pop or dance music
• Closet declutter: empowering anthems
• Office organization: instrumental or lo-fi beats
• Bedroom refresh: calm acoustic playlists
• Garage or storage room: high-energy throwbacks

Progress Feels More Rewarding

Music also helps celebrate progress. Finishing a project while your favorite song plays creates a positive emotional connection to organizing. Over time, you may begin to associate tidying up with feeling accomplished instead of feeling stressed.

That mindset shift matters.

Your home doesn’t need to be perfect to feel good. Sometimes all it takes is one song, one drawer, and one small step forward.

So the next time you feel stuck in clutter, don’t start with the bins or baskets. Start with the playlist.

Looking for local expertise in productivity and organizing? Check out our NAPO directory to find your perfect match.

Note from the Editor:

Just for fun, we asked NAPO members to share their “I need to get off the couch and do something” song and/or preferences for what to listen to while organizing:

Cassie Lapierre Brady of The Creative Organizer in Las Vegas, NV:
Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk”
Pharell “Happy”

Emily Fawcett of Ruskin Road in San Diego, CA:
Wham “Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go)”
Kelsea Ballerini “Hole in the Bottle”
Post Malone “I Had Some Help”

Gail R. Shapiro of Wayland, MA:
Van Morrison “Bright Side of the Road”

Aurelia Duke of Clutter Cutter in Brooklyn, NY:
Tycho “Alive”

Karen Baker of SOHO Productivity Solutions in Houston, TX:
The Temptations
The Supremes
The Jackson 5

John Trosko of Organizing LA in Los Angeles, CA:
John finds environmental background music (café sounds, seaside music, rainy-day restaurant ambience, etc.) especially helpful for some clients with ADHD; he recommends Focus@Will

Geri Chark Frankel, CPO® of GCF Organizing in Moorestown, NJ:
Yuna “Rescue”

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