30-second Dance Party: A Spotify Playlist

Two things are true about this team - we care about mental health and that of those around us, and we LOVE a 30-second dance party. We use it to get going in the morning, pep us up in the afternoon, as a way to feel better when our anxiety kicks up, or to get out of our own heads. 

So, we created our own Spotify playlist.

McKenna and Kate have mother-daughter dance parties while making dinner when she is home for a visit or over FaceTime when they are apart. If one of them is feeling down, the other knows to suggest a 30-second dose of serotonin. They end up laughing and feeling better. We’re not saying it’s magic, but it might be magic.

Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute confirms that “music stimulates the brain's reward centers while dance activates its sensory and motor circuits.” Suggesting a 30-second dance party can be a tremendous gift for friends going through challenging times, kids after a long day at school, parents or grandparents feeling alone, and, of course, yourself. Please don’t forget about yourself! As Elaine Benes from Seinfeld taught us, you don’t have to be a good dancer to have a fantastic time. Let your guard down, turn on your favorite song and watch the connection happen.

If you need more convincing, Stanford dance professor, Richard Powers, concludes that dancing makes you smarter. So many benefits in one perfect package. Have 30 seconds to spare?

The Health: It's Personal 30 Second Dance Party is a curated list of listener and guest favorites for when you’re stressed, anxious or just need to dance it out. Check out some of our impromptu dance parties on social media and don’t forget to tag us @theHIPpodcast on Instagram. Use the #HIP30SecondDanceParty hashtag, too! Enjoy!