I'm a firm believer in the power of music. Music can affect our mood in so many ways. We know this to be true. The songs you listen to when you study are probably very different from what you listen to when you work out. Much of the research done on this shows that our bodies physically react to the rhythm and tone of the songs we listen to. Our heart beats actually sync with the rhythm. Slow songs will slow our heart rate. They might relax us or make us sad. Fast songs will increase our heart rate, which might make us feel excited or energized. Calm songs with some upbeats might make us feel love or happiness. The tone of songs communicate emotions to our brains. Music in a major key is usually more cheerful. Minor key pieces communicate sadness. Music causes our brains to release different chemicals, like dopamine, which is known to be mood-enhancing. And the lyrics of the songs we listen to likely speak to us in some way. We internalize the words and experiences behind these songs even when we're listening while we do other things. In my experience, music has a deep impact on my thoughts and feelings, like listening to sad music when I'm feeling down is likely to bring me to tears. The power of music is that it's something we choose to listen to, many of us enjoy, and it communicates feelings, sometimes without words, that we actually assume from listening. They affect us even after we stop listening.

The last few months have been a whirlwind of emotions for the world and each of us is impacted by that differently. I personally have been on every end of the spectrum of emotions. Things are constantly changing and the Internet overloads us with constant updates. I've been feeling overwhelmed with feelings of sadness and hopelessness and exhaustion because it feels like things are so out of my control. But, I firmly believe in the power of music. Sharing music is definitely part of my love language. And out of love for myself I started making a playlist, tentatively titled "good 4 my mental health." One way I've learned I can cope with these feelings is to exercise more control over how I treat myself. That playlist is meant to be a resource I'm preparing for those days when I'm feeling down and I need a pick-me-up. I've compiled a list of 25 of those songs that I want to share for anyone who needs a pick-me-up in this pandemic.

1. "I Was Sad Last Night I'm Ok Now" - tobi lou

https://open.spotify.com/track/0gEcmyKlIUoi3sHTFVO1bE?si=ATgJ-ENiS6adR-3RYPKEWQ

2. "It Gets Better" - Rex Orange County

https://open.spotify.com/track/6lxJDscGCALBzA0BdhGCiL?si=0X5sEYMSR-m3Pm9qg8VxLQ

3. "get well soon" - Ariana Grande

https://open.spotify.com/track/7u6DMPznGbpziuEgCE0JGQ?si=44mvCbBDRcuc_eq4wwo5wQ

4. "Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse)" - Post Malone, Swae Lee

https://open.spotify.com/track/0RiRZpuVRbi7oqRdSMwhQY?si=pelMvuVPRyimaYOROFULCQ

5. "Know Your Worth" - Khalid, Disclosure, DaVido, Tems

https://open.spotify.com/track/04QTmCTsaVjcGaoxj8rSjE?si=OL0ql1QtTn6Ofeb32Y8EEQ

6. "Watermelon Sugar" - Harry Styles

https://open.spotify.com/track/1e9oZCCiX42nJl0AcqriVo?si=pK5W36mmQDevTgnqTzm4Zw

7. "Sunday Best" - Surfaces

https://open.spotify.com/track/1Cv1YLb4q0RzL6pybtaMLo?si=NAdy34X8QPOs9DDRF8pZjA

8. "Alright" (Explicit) - Kendrick Lamar

https://open.spotify.com/track/0ECs7wpW9157Tk5yBUGbE0?si=EPVR9hvhQEu78XGOfW179Q

9. "Summertime Magic" - Childish Gambino

https://open.spotify.com/track/4j3GWI86JvSaF0BLdmgcfF?si=xjgAOVZZS-GbT6CSENi-sA

10. "Good Life" - Kanye West, T-Pain

https://open.spotify.com/track/14blxrgE0VWAgv5aF2wWmx?si=buKWJ_nwQg2U-uAst4tAug

11. "Wanderlust (Pharrell Remix)" - The Weeknd ft Pharrell

https://open.spotify.com/track/5WsCmd32VvISX0RrTUZgc8?si=Wrs4cDoYSr2KDJ3ZNOXc-g

12. "Bloom" - bLAck pARty

https://open.spotify.com/track/05xA64s3UzOOmAnh9SIIjn?si=_2B8tRK3R3iTRQaaOWTn9w

13. "Crooked Smile" - J.Cole, TLC

https://open.spotify.com/track/6JG0qhINKVwiHxqN85j7RG?si=3JkPkjUaRcWuAePc12iz8g

14. "In My Room" - Frank Ocean

https://open.spotify.com/track/4S4Mfvv03M1cHgIOJcbUCL?si=1uZ8yYDVQ4eZ8m_Bg2zWzQ

15. "The Less I Know The Better" - Tame Impala

https://open.spotify.com/track/6K4t31amVTZDgR3sKmw...

16. "Do It" - Chloe x Halle

https://open.spotify.com/track/35Dh5MnCUPLN3XyAVtQff3?si=4oK9SQpKTZuGtGqQFOZH_w

17. "La La La" - Naughty Boy, Sam Smith

https://open.spotify.com/track/3wPPWcVuinAU7dXcJXtCID?context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DX29brXfjEm5q&si=hvaCCwNhS_2GW8aR9A6mSQ

18. "Toast" - Koffee

https://open.spotify.com/track/7sd72KZS8D59g5NmhxyHpJ?si=szNTyfPGRgqWRouNiWqNHQ

19. "Wake Up in the Sky" (Explicit) - Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars, Kodak Black

https://open.spotify.com/track/0QIjsbm2fh1cJ45XO9eGqq?si=QGq-06htSD2RfZ8Me9zuRQ

20. "Soulmate" - Lizzo

https://open.spotify.com/track/6h2wpo2pshM8QnAvRySEO0?context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DX4fpCWaHOned&si=wIUGrJovQYaNfIafm7YZEw

21. "Show Me Love (EDX Remix/ Radio Edit)" - Sam Feldt, Kimberly Anne, EDX

https://open.spotify.com/track/4zCV2sz9XIVWuToqRpIS03?si=-Aq-bFihSZ-FOu3ZrtOUyg

22. "Put Your Records On" - Corinne Bailey Rae

https://open.spotify.com/track/2nGFzvICaeEWjIrBrL2RAx?si=ypDX9jJ2Sq-LOXjb5y1ZRQ

23. "Love On Top" - Beyoncé

https://open.spotify.com/track/1z6WtY7X4HQJvzxC4UgkSf?si=qhz5PTQJSfO3IrrcK3ksqQ

24. "Mood" (Explicit) - SiR, Zacari

https://open.spotify.com/track/4eULGB0zI7NIdV2KjWbbiZ?si=mDLyLiVITBucIuTNR_DZJw

25. "MOOD 4 EVA" - Beyoncé Jay-Z, Childish Gambino, Oumou Sangaré

https://open.spotify.com/track/7oqftogUN82Q7VNy2TmTJW?si=zLKTlPicQaabsMgiM-KNYA