The spring semester is upon us, which is a perfect indicator of stress and sadness. I find that though the first week of classes is manageable, I quickly get thrown into trenches of readings, projects, and essays, and I usually turn to music to lower my stress. There isn't exactly a common theme in the music I listen to other than the fact that they're "feel-good." So whether you're stressed about something or just in the mood for some mellow music, here are a few songs I've been listening to recently.

1. Bloom - The Paper Kites

I find so much serenity in this song, maybe because of the calming melody or the quirky whistling. Either way, this is the perfect song to listen to in any mood I'm in. It's even soothing enough to potentially be the song your alarm goes off to. (And you won't hate it every time you hear it.)

2. Liebesleid (Love's Sorrow) - Fritz Kreisler (Rachmaninoff arrangement)

In this video, the piece is played by Charles Rosen, and is a beautiful classical piece. I find myself going through phases of loving classical music, but after hearing this, I seriously questioned why I ever swayed between loving it and ignoring it.

3. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand

You can appreciate Barbra Streisand's vocals and take a look back at her throughout the years in this video. Her voice is sugar, my friends. Sweet and timeless. I listen to this a lot when I'm sad without a reason, or when I just want to feel calm.

4. Half The World Away - AURORA

I really, really love this song. If I'm ever sad, I listen to this because the vibe of this song comforts my sadness or stress. I just love listening to songs that complement the emotions I'm feeling. Usually, I don't look for pick-me-up songs when I'm feeling blue, so this is a loved option.

5. You There - Aquilo

This song gives me a similar vibe as the song mentioned above. (Half the World Away) Not only is the video visually stunning, but the lyrics, such as "Funny it takes no time to fall back down / Funny it takes the time to get back up" are beautiful.

6. Tell Her You Love Her - Echosmith

I first heard this song while working with clay in my three-dimensional design class, and I recall really being immersed in this song while it was playing. This song is a little more upbeat than the others and makes me want to sing along every time I listen to it. And if there's anything to know about me, it's that singing along to a good song never fails to alleviate some of my stress.

7. I Still Make Her Cry - The Strumbellas

There's something that digs into my heart when I listen to this song. The vocals lift heaviness from my shoulders when I listen to it. This is one of the songs I listen to when I'm so stressed that I give up on everything and lay in bed instead.

8. She Used to be Mine - Sara Bareilles

She Used to be Mine, a song from the broadway musical Waitress, is one of my favorite things to listen to when I'm stressed and/or feeling inadequate. It reminds me that though I have qualities that I'm not the proudest of, I also have good traits that outweigh the bad.

9. Follow You - Bring Me The Horizon

Although the music video was a little too much for me, so the song itself is quite nice. I love the lyrics and music really bring it together to make a song that evokes emotions and at the same time is a great song to sing aloud.

Good luck with your classes in the newcoming semester! If you find yourself feeling stressed, make your way back to this list and take a listen to some of my personal favorite stress relievers.