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A Playlist For A Pick-Me-Up

Music can be a powerful tool for improving your mood.

Gia Guzman

Jun 30, 2020

Providence College

118

I'm a firm believer in the power of music. Music can affect our mood in so many ways. We know this to be true. The songs you listen to when you study are probably very different from what you listen to when you work out. Much of the research done on this shows that our bodies physically react to the rhythm and tone of the songs we listen to. Our heart beats actually sync with the rhythm. Slow songs will slow our heart rate. They might relax us or make us sad. Fast songs will increase our heart rate, which might make us feel excited or energized. Calm songs with some upbeats might make us feel love or happiness. The tone of songs communicate emotions to our brains. Music in a major key is usually more cheerful. Minor key pieces communicate sadness. Music causes our brains to release different chemicals, like dopamine, which is known to be mood-enhancing. And the lyrics of the songs we listen to likely speak to us in some way. We internalize the words and experiences behind these songs even when we're listening while we do other things. In my experience, music has a deep impact on my thoughts and feelings, like listening to sad music when I'm feeling down is likely to bring me to tears. The power of music is that it's something we choose to listen to, many of us enjoy, and it communicates feelings, sometimes without words, that we actually assume from listening. They affect us even after we stop listening.

The last few months have been a whirlwind of emotions for the world and each of us is impacted by that differently. I personally have been on every end of the spectrum of emotions. Things are constantly changing and the Internet overloads us with constant updates. I've been feeling overwhelmed with feelings of sadness and hopelessness and exhaustion because it feels like things are so out of my control. But, I firmly believe in the power of music. Sharing music is definitely part of my love language. And out of love for myself I started making a playlist, tentatively titled "good 4 my mental health." One way I've learned I can cope with these feelings is to exercise more control over how I treat myself. That playlist is meant to be a resource I'm preparing for those days when I'm feeling down and I need a pick-me-up. I've compiled a list of 25 of those songs that I want to share for anyone who needs a pick-me-up in this pandemic.

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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A Playlist For A Pick-Me-Up

Music can be a powerful tool for improving your mood.

1. "I Was Sad Last Night I'm Ok Now" - tobi lou

2. "It Gets Better" - Rex Orange County

3. "get well soon" - Ariana Grande

4. "Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse)" - Post Malone, Swae Lee

5. "Know Your Worth" - Khalid, Disclosure, DaVido, Tems

6. "Watermelon Sugar" - Harry Styles

7. "Sunday Best" - Surfaces

8. "Alright" (Explicit) - Kendrick Lamar

9. "Summertime Magic" - Childish Gambino

10. "Good Life" - Kanye West, T-Pain

11. "Wanderlust (Pharrell Remix)" - The Weeknd ft Pharrell

12. "Bloom" - bLAck pARty

13. "Crooked Smile" - J.Cole, TLC

14. "In My Room" - Frank Ocean

15. "The Less I Know The Better" - Tame Impala

16. "Do It" - Chloe x Halle

17. "La La La" - Naughty Boy, Sam Smith

18. "Toast" - Koffee

19. "Wake Up in the Sky" (Explicit) - Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars, Kodak Black

20. "Soulmate" - Lizzo

21. "Show Me Love (EDX Remix/ Radio Edit)" - Sam Feldt, Kimberly Anne, EDX

22. "Put Your Records On" - Corinne Bailey Rae

23. "Love On Top" - Beyoncé

24. "Mood" (Explicit) - SiR, Zacari

25. "MOOD 4 EVA" - Beyoncé Jay-Z, Childish Gambino, Oumou Sangaré

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This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

Run Around Clanging Pots and Pans in Everyone's Face

Eat the Last Few Pigs in a Blanket

Pop Twelve White Grapes

Burn Something

Smash Things Against a Wall

Spontaneously Begin an Irish Jig

Call Your Mother

Throw a Coffee Table Out a Window

Sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the Top of Your Lungs

Do Some Squats

Swan Dive into a Nearly Freezing Body of Water

Take a Shot

Time to be merry and bright.

"First Noel" by Leslie Odom, Jr

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Kelly Clarkson

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" by Michael Buble

"Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift

"The Christmas Song" by Josh Groban

"White Christmas" by Idina Menzel

"O Holy Night" by David Archuleta

"Believe" by Josh Groban

"Les cloches du hameau" by Celine Dion

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

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