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Jill Provost on Mar 8, 2011 at 2:06PM
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Feel like your job has sucked all the joy out of you? Well, it’s no wonder you can’t think straight. According to a study in the journal Psychological Science, being in a good mood boosts creative thinking, and doing things at work to buoy your spirits can help you perform better. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario found that watching a funny YouTube video or listening to upbeat music on the clock was less a form of procrastination and more a tool to help workers dig into projects that required creative problem-solving. What’s more, a 2009 University of Melbourne study found that people who browsed the Web for kicks at work were nine percent more productive than people who didn’t goof off. Instead of hunkering down for the haul, give in to a few minutes of goofiness. Bonus: Research shows that a hearty laugh is an instant stress reliever.
