Music has been a constant source of stress relief in my life. Through classical music cram-sessions in the library, anti-anxiety driving music and heartbreak playlists, a good series of songs have supported me through each and every one of my worst times. 

I never really realized how much I relied on music to get me through the day, not justwhen I was stressed or anxious, but also when I was bored or happy, or even just walking to class. As soon as I step outside to start the trek across campus, my headphones are in my ears and the noises of the outside world are drowned out by whatever sequence of music I have deemed appropriate for the day.

Music can alter my mood completely, and when I started using this to my advantage, I was able to make each day more enjoyable. 

If you aren’t romanticizing your life through personal playlists, you need to start. I have an obscene amount of playlists for any possible scenario I experience regularly. Things like walking to class, driving to work, note-taking and showering are examples of situations that I think can be improved by music, especially when your roommate is gone and you can sing “Chasing Pavements” by Adele at the top of your lungs while you wash your hair. 

I start each day off with music specifically chosen to put me in a good mood. When I can sing and dance (quietly) while I get ready in the morning, I feel incredibly positive about the day and what I can accomplish. I can’t think of a better feeling than hearing a song queue up that you know will put a smile on your face and be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. These are the kinds of songs that make life more enjoyable for me. 

This means that selecting the music and picking a theme is the most important part. You cannot simply put your phone on shuffle and go about your day under the assumption that these mood-altering songs will just magically play, one after the other. Who’s to say that song you added to your library for your holiday playlist won’t decide to play while you’re in the shower (I’m definitely not talking about a personal experience with the song “Monster Mash”). It’s much easier to plan which songs you know you’ll want to hear rather than awkwardly stepping out of the shower to change the song every four minutes. 

If you want the best playlist experience, you have to put thought and effort into how you might feel when you play it, and most importantly, how you want to feel after. As I said before, music can change your perspective on each day, and romanticizing your life through your personalized soundtrack makes life feel fun.

Playlists help you achieve that main character moment we’ve all fantasized about and can be a fun addition to each day.