Music, for as long as I can remember, has been my go-to form of escapism for whatever I am doing. Whether it be cooking, going on a walk or just laying in bed doing nothing at all, I always turn to music as a way to decompress and sift through my thoughts. While looking for things to do as part of my daily routine, I have found that listening to music just makes everything so much easier when I feel unsure or unmotivated. Especially during these times, I feel that finding new music, getting re-in touch with your favorite nostalgia bangers or just listening to today’s hits, is the perfect way to survive self-isolation.
1. Making Breakfast
Despite my tendency to wake up at noon amid self-isolation, I try to make an effort by starting my day with something productive. Opposed to just preparing cereal every morning, I have set out to make my own breakfast as often as possible. My current go-to is pancakes, however, there is a world of Instagram recipes that should keep me occupied. These songs are not too energetic to start my day, but they are the perfect baking/cooking vibe to help me get excited for the day.
“Sunflower, Vol. 6” – Harry Styles
“Banana Pancakes” – Jack Johnson
“Golden Hour” – Kacey Musgraves
2. Working Out
Working out is the perfect opportunity to blast your favorite high-energy music to its maximum. My typical go-tos for this energy are pop bangers with some kind of motivating message to keep me inspired throughout the workout. Blasting these songs, along with anything else by these artists, gets me fully immersed in the music that sometimes I even forget I am working out.
“Boss B*tch” – Doja Cat
“Physical” – Dua Lipa
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
3. Shower
For as long as I can remember, shower time is the mental equivalent of being on the second leg of my own personal world tour. I usually feel a personal obligation to bring a speaker in and just blast the most random songs that make me wish I had a microphone on hand. My shower time music taste ranges from throwback bangers to spark nostalgia, ‘80s pop essentials and female anthems.
“No Control” – One Direction
“Let’s Dance” – David Bowie
“Tears Dry (Original Version)” – Amy Winehouse
4. Journal/Create
Once I’m out of the shower and I’ve gotten all the pop hits out of my system, I like to wind down with some soft and chill music. Although this is not an everyday thing for me (but I’m working on it), I really enjoy journaling. I find that documenting your life, especially during this time, is a great opportunity to channel feelings, creativity and ideas. These songs are the perfect assistant in calming me while also helping me think.
“Sara” – Fleetwood Mac
“21st Century Machine” – Catie Turner
“Cannock Chase” – Labi Siffre
5. Before Bed
My before bed song selection is probably my favorite time to listen to music. Of course, it is all dependent on my mood, but there are just certain songs that are so peaceful that they allow my mind to slow down and I am able to feel so relaxed before I’m out for the night. These songs allow for the perfect escape from reality that is perfect for clearing any stressful thoughts you encountered throughout your day.
“Reason For Dreaming” – The Happy Fits
“Seigfried” – Frank Ocean
“Fine Line” – Harry Styles
Now with all this spare time at our disposal, it is the perfect time to find things that help us detach from the stress and potential anxiety associated with living through a pandemic. With music, no matter the genre, it helps create and direct our mood into what we want to feel. Allow yourself to breathe when you feel wound up, find things that help you get through your day and then tell Alexa what you want to hear to get you through it!
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