Playlists that promote your wellness and healthy habits
What is the connection between music and our mental health? Often, music plays a significant role in many people’s lives and should not be taken for granted as an aspect of mental fitness. What if we could improve our mental health through what we listen to?
There is a plethora of research suggesting that music can help decrease stress and combat anxiety and depressive disorders. For example, this 2022 study from the National Library of Medicine examined the positive relationship between music, health outcomes, and quality of life. Certain genres of music can even lower blood pressure and heart rate (Health Psychology Review). Further, the American Psychiatric Association suggests that music contributes toward building individual resilience, encouraging social connection, and giving voice to important causes.
How can you integrate music into your 9 to 5 in a healthy way? Below are some suggestions that author Maura Thomas recommends for boosting productivity. As you browse these recommendations, remember what your intended goals are: Are you trying to regain energy or focus, or calm your nerves before a presentation? There’s a playlist for that.
Are you feeling distracted?
Whether you are facing endless notifications from your phone or pressing issues from work or family, there is certainly no shortage of demands on our attention. Our bodies release adrenaline and cortisol during stressful periods, making situations feel more urgent than they may be in reality. Some types of music that can help ground your emotions are rhythmic drum beats or Tibetan singing bowls. These steadying rhythms can move your brain out of fight-or-flight mode.
Improving focus or flow
According to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “flow” refers to the state of becoming so engrossed in your work or activity that time seemingly flies by. A sense of great satisfaction or accomplishment typically follows. To encourage focus, try upbeat classical music or instrumental jazz. Just as we can lose track of time listening to music that we enjoy, find music that matches your mood.
Need to wind down?
Listen to relaxing piano or, if you are outdoors, the nature around you. It may help to use over-the-ear headphones if you are in a busy environment like a street or even a noisy office. To function at our best, our brains need time and space to process information. Have you noticed how sometimes a great idea can come to you in the shower of all places? That’s because before smartphone notifications and social media, people had more opportunities to have uninterrupted downtime and creative ideas. Hearing softer music can replicate this experience.
Listening to relaxing sounds such as soft instrumental piano or being in nature can help your brain successfully unwind or process information.
Curious about what the Savor Lining team listens to?
We sound off on our recommendations here (pun intended) ?
Ian
Besides music and live shows being an enormous part of my life, I definitely use it regularly through work sessions. I’d say my go-to work listens are usually instrumental music and I have a large playlist of vocal-less artists I like, mainly stuff like Explosions In the Sky and Max Richter and Eluvium. It just creates a vibe and consistency with some mellower and higher energy parts. I also occasionally use Baroque music and lofi covers of 90s songs for focused work music that’s still fun.
Outside of work hours I rotate tons of playlists, namely ones for certain moods. I have a grief and sadness playlist, a sentimental/lovey song playlist, an all female vocalist playlist, a heavier playlist, and I always have “favorite of the current year” playlists to stay on top of new releases. All of this keeps me engaged in certain friendships (collaborative playlists), or moods I’m in, or just busy with things to get to.
Ashlei
Lofi Latino is a must for me! And during Christmas – Lofi Christmas to get into the holiday spirit.
Evelyn
The hit show Severance from Apple TV has been living rent-free in my head since the first season aired in 2022. I consume a ton of instrumental lofi and movie soundtracks while researching and writing, so the “Music to Refine To” remix from ODESZA has been on repeat since it released. It’s an upbeat and creative spin on the award-winning music from the show, and it’s ideal during my thought process. There’s no doubt it will be at the top of my Spotify Wrapped for 2025! Some other great choices are the Dune Part Two soundtrack (or anything Hans Zimmer, honestly), this Energetic Upbeat lofi playlist, and Lindsey Stirling’s extraordinary violin work.
While these suggestions are meant to be a starting point, keep in mind that we all may respond to music in our unique way. Try different styles and find what is most beneficial for you. Or, if you already have an extensive music library – what are your favorite playlists? What songs or albums have been instrumental in your mental fitness journey? If you have a moment, click the LinkedIn button below to share this post (and your great musical taste) with your network.
