Amy Poehler’s Trick to Stay Energized on Set

If you’ve ever wondered how Leslie Knope maintained her boundless enthusiasm through seven seasons of Parks and Recreation, this delightfully simple energy hack might be exactly what your afternoon routine is missing.  It turns out the secret to surviving long days on set isn’t more coffee; it’s more Rihanna. 

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In the latest episode of her podcast, Good Hang, Amy Poehler sat down with her friend and former co-star Kathryn Hahn for a conversation full of laughs, love and, unexpectedly, some solid wellness advice. 

“You were the most incredible No. 1 on a call sheet,” Hahn tells Poehler, “because you had dance parties at lunch every day.” And those breaks weren’t just for cast and crew morale—though it seems like they helped with that, too. For Poehler, those post-lunch dance breaks were a personal energy strategy. 

“We used to do a thing where … after lunch we would play three songs,” Poehler shares on the podcast. With music curated by Parks and Rec makeup artist Autumn Butler, they would dance around the trailer for about 10 minutes. There was no choreography or judgment; it was simply a fun way for Poehler to keep her energy up.

And, honestly, we get it. Midday slumps are real. You’ve just eaten and have more work to do, but your body would very much like a nap. So what if the solution isn’t another iced coffee or dragging your laptop to the sunniest corner of your home office, but three songs and a little imagination? Science says Poehler might be onto something.

Research supports the idea of “exercise snacks,” short bursts of physical activity throughout the day, as a legitimate way to increase energy and focus. One study found that just five minutes of walking every 30 minutes could dramatically reduce fatigue and improve cognitive function. And if you need even more motivation, those researchers also found that it was the optimal amount of movement to lower blood pressure and reduce blood sugar spikes by 58%.

If you’re doing the math, that’s roughly half the length of Poehler’s recommended playlist. “I want to remind you, you can always have your own [dance party],” Poehler adds. “All you need is three songs, one other person, and the want and need to have fun.” 

Don’t worry if you work alone; spontaneous solo dance breaks count. And yes, she does give you a complete three-song prescription:

• Song 1: Start slow with “Brass in Pocket” by the Pretenders. “Take it slow, warm up and stretch,” she advises. Channel your inner Leslie Knope prepping for a city council debate.
• Song 2: Next, ramp it up with “Red Wine Supernova” by Chappell Roan. “Sing all the lyrics really loudly and point,” Poehler instructs. Think of it like karaoke with cardio.
• Song 3: Go full night-out mode with “We Found Love in a Hopeless Place” by Rihanna. “Pretend that you’ve lost your purse on the dance floor and run around,” she adds. We’ve got a feeling that extra rush will wake you up faster than a third cup of coffee.

While you might not log it on a fitness app or go to a gym, your dance break still counts as “real” exercise. Any cardiovascular activity that gets your heart pumping releases endorphins (the feel-good chemicals) and can improve balance, flexibility and endurance. It’s also joyful, which we don’t always associate with fitness but should. 

Dancing (or any physical activity, as we know) can profoundly affect your health. Regular movement has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, strengthen your immune system, support cognitive health, improve sleep, reduce anxiety and depression and help fight that dreaded midafternoon crash. 

Just as important? Finding a type of movement you actually enjoy. So, go ahead, press play on your favorite playlist, and get jiggy with it. The lesson here is that life is better when we don’t skip the dance breaks.