Wake up and Build-up

It's no secret that music is one of the best mood changers around. Whether you're sad, angry, excited, lovesick, or drunk, there is always a playlist out there to fit or change your mood. Consider it the coffee of entertainment. If you need to relax and take a bath you might put on easy beats; if you are at the gym you probably listen to pump-up music. According to Spotify, there are over 1,300 genres of music, so no matter what you fancy, the options are endless. My personal favorites are indie, pop, and dance. One day if you are lucky enough I may even share my make-up and pre-drinking playlist. Spoiler alert: It's a lot of Nelly Furtado, Dolly Parton, and the queen- Megan Thee Stallion. But you're not here for that, you want to know how to find your zen and lift your mood.

Although everyone defines their Zen a little differently, when thinking about my personal Zen time, I think of waking up. The early morning is the best time to focus on yourself and get your mind aligned before the rest of the worldly distractions begin. So naturally, my day needs to begin with music. From the moment I open my eyes, I am aware of the fact that I am fuelling my mind and mood for the day. This is the best part of my Wake up and Centre Playlist. Although it begins slow and calming there is an international build of pace and rhythm. I aimed to create a playlist that I can sing to or just have in the background.

The playlist starts off with slow and calming music but by the end, there are upbeat and excitable tunes. According to Shahram Heshmat (2016) "Our internal rhythms, such as our heart rate, speed up or slow down to become one with the music. We float and move with the music." Using this logic, I begin with a short meditative podcast. What this allows me to do is breathe, focus and immediately center myself in the day. Moving forward, the slow, calming sounds of Adrian Eagle play while I stretch and make my bed. I then move through the playlist as I prepare my morning coffee, and get my affairs in order for the day.

My favorite shift in the playlist is Super Rich Kids by Nilüfer Yanya. Originally sung by Frank Ocean, this is one of the best covers I have listened to. It has a perfect mix of vocals and beats and is a great song to represent the halfway point of the playlist. So by the time Blondie by Current Joys comes on, you will have reached calm, and are now ready to move onto some buildup style of music. This is amazing music to get ready for the workday or for whatever arrangements you may have.

Fittingly, the playlist ends with Work by Izzy Bizu. Being one of my top artists, Izzy is the exact person I need to provide me with an upbeat tune that gives me an instant energy hit. Once this song ends, I hit that login button and get to work! So what else can I say about this playlist? It is my tried and true. It IS my ultimate Zen Playlist because I define my Zen as my state of relaxed and upbeat. Better yet, if you need even greater of an energy hit, pop on some sound-proof headphones and really listen to the instrumental beats. You will thank me later.

With this, all said and done. Have a listen, or two and see if this playlist can help you the way it helps me. Worst case, you could still walk away with a new artist or song to listen to.

Source:

Shahram Heshmat, S. H. (in press). 6 Ways Music Affects Your Emotions. Psychology Today.