24. Red- Taylor Swift | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

My Anxiety/Stress-Reducing Playlist

A playlist of songs for any college student who finds them stressing over every small thing.

26
My Anxiety/Stress-Reducing Playlist
Personal photo

I know the title says "Anti-Anxiety" but I thought I'd just preface this article by saying that I'm not clinically diagnosed. However, I am 87% positive that if I were to be checked on, I would have some level of anxiety. What level exactly, I won't know unless I ever choose to go to a therapist. Anyways...

This is a midnight-made playlist of some of my favorites songs that never fail to calm me down. They truly make me feel like there is nothing wrong in the world and that everything is perfect. While it can't really change the reality and chaos that might be ensuing in the world around me, it can give me temporary solace long enough for me to think through my daily stressors. These songs are also great for car drives, given that you blast the volume. There isn't any specific order to listen to, even though the ones listed below will be numbered; I usually just hit shuffle and curl up under a blanket wearing PJs.

I now present to you my Anxiety/Stress-Reducing Playlist, titled "girl what's wrong wit u come back down", a title inspired by one of my favorite songs. Some songs will have explanations, and some won't; the ones who don't are just calming because of their instrumentals and feelings of calmness they invoke. Some of the explanations are also just my favorite lyrics in each one. Remember, there's no order. And if you want to follow my Spotify, it's @suvistar17 (shameless plug, I know).

 1. Vienna- Billy Joel

Perfect for realizing that you have all the time in the world to accomplish everything you want...and to just slow down, you crazy child.

2. Pure Imagination ("Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory")- Gene Wilder

A timeless melody beckoning the listener to just take a moment to let your mind wander.

3. Cough Syrup- Young the Giant

Trust me, playing this song at full blast erases your mind of all worries. "Life's too short to even care at all."

4. Tongue Tied- Grouplove

Just like the above song, you should also blast this at the highest volume. Even though the lyrics don't specifically say to calm yourself, the music, the instrumentals, and the sheer joy in the song should reduce your stress. If it doesn't, yikes.

5. Wildest Dreams- Taylor Swift

Interestingly, Swift recorded her actual heartbeat for this 1989 album track. It's a fairly mellow-medium tempo, so your own heartbeat almost ends up matching hers and essentially slowing down.

6. Begin Again- Taylor Swift

I always pay attention to lyrics and "On a Wednesday, in a cafe, I watched it begin again" is a reminder that things will get better and new chapters are always good for the soul.

7. get well soon- Ariana Grande

This song is the aforementioned inspiration for the title of my playlist. It's an ode to the 2017 Manchester terrorist attack at one of her concerts, and the song features 40 seconds of silence as tribute to the victims. Grande has mentioned in a few interviews that the dense layers of interwoven vocals represent her feeling of "floating last year and not in a nice way" and feeling like "she was outside of [her] body" and that she had breathing problems. The song is intended for people who have anxiety and who need to be comforted. A key lyric, "you can work your way to the top, I'm with you (x3) just call me, no matter the issue," is always super reassuring.

8. Turning Page- Sleeping At Last

A key song in the Twilight Saga soundtrack, this melody creates a feeling of love and appreciation of the little things.

9. Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version-Twilight Saga)- Iron & Wine

Who doesn't love weddings?

10. Sweater Weather- The Neighbourhood

"Head in the clouds but my gravity's centered."

 11. Happy Little Pill- Troye Sivan

This song is about loneliness and the different ways that people cope with the things that are going on in their lives. Some turn to healthy ways of coping, and others can't quite find their way. But either way, it's still the same battle.

12. Put Your Records On- Corinne Bailey Rae

"Just go ahead let your hair down...You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow."

13. Best Part- H.E.R., Daniel Caesar

This song honestly makes you feel like you're sitting on a swing, attached to a tree at the edge of the world. But it's not scary. In fact, you can see the sun as it rises and there's just miles of sky and clouds.

14. breathin- Ariana Grande 

A newer anthem dedicated to the singer's struggle with anxiety, and how breathing truly is the most important thing to remind yourself to do.

15. Soledad y el Mar (feat. Los Macorinos)- Natalia Lafourcade

"Let the sea sing to me, I've been feeling alone with loneliness" This Spanish song is by one of my favorite Latin artists. There's no way to not feel soothed by her light and sweet tone, paired with the lovely guitar line in this track.

16. Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran

This song has always been a reminder that things will keep changing, but always for the better in the end.

17. It's Time- Imagine Dragons

It's time to begin, isn't it? I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit I'm just the same as I was. Now don't you understand I'm never changing who I am.

18. bellyache- Billie Eilish

This is more of a low-fi beats song, that really connects to your heartbeat again. Eilish's airy harmonies also making you feel light on your feet and like your head is in the clouds.

19. I Wanna Get Better- Bleachers

Another song to blast at full volume in your car.

20. Paris- Magic Man

It's a bop that takes you on an adventure to Paris...or I guess away from it.

21. Anna Sun- WALK THE MOON

"What do you know? this house is falling apart. What can I say? this house is falling apart. We got no money, but we got heart. We're gonna rattle this ghost town."

22. San Francisco- The Mowgli's

"I've been in love with love and the idea of something binding us together, you know that love is strong enough. I've seen time tell tales about that systematic drug, yeah that heart that beats as one- it's collectively unconsciously composed."

23. Out Of My League- Fitz and The Tantrums

Repetitive lyrics, but again, perfect for blasting.

 24. Red- Taylor Swift

Colors are always calming, and Swift really plays on that in the song, even though the track is about a love that truly spanned the emotional spectrum.

 25. Fix You- Coldplay

The second the organ music starts, you can't help but feel weightless.

26. Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol

"If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

 27. New Soul- Yael Naim

This song is the physical manifestation of new beginnings.

28. All Too Well- Taylor Swift

This song is an emotional diary entry about relationships, but to me, it's more of a reminder about the past and to just keep in mind that your memories don't really fade, regardless of whether they are good or bad. I know I sound like I'm contradicting myself, but trust me, I find a really meaningful message in this melody.

29. Weightless- Marconi Union

According to neuroscientists from the UK, listening to this song reduces anxiety by 65% and a 35% reduction in physiological resting rates. It was specifically designed to slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and lower cortisol (stress) levels. In fact, it's so effective that it's dangerous to drive while listening to it. It makes your whole body relax, and makes you hyper aware of how tense you really are.

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

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

441456
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

14722
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

40650
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

20688
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

321055
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments