I am sure we have all referred to the movie Groundhog Day recently, living the same day over and over trapped in our homes, waiting for the day that it is safe to exit. Some of us haven’t seen much change in our daily routines and some of us are literally trying to keep it together and it isn’t even ten in the morning yet. This feeling is taking a toll on our moods, relationships, and our spirits.
Today I woke up and realized what I needed was a Covid-19 playlist, music for all occasions, to get me moving, and to make me smile, laugh or cry.
The Song I Need to Start My Day Right
Picture it: you start your morning off with an upbeat song, get your body moving, find there’s a smile on your face and your kiddos get up and get involved, too. This almost-forty-year-old mom starts the day by jumping up and down and shaking her head to Blinding Lights by The Weekend; I am loving the beat and the sound. If you happen to be peering through my kitchen window you would see me shaking (possibly wondering if I was having a seizure because I have absolutely no rhythm) with a rolled-out-of-bed hair bun, making our morning French press with my kids running around at my ankles. Right now this song gives me the energy and the positive attitude that I need to start my day. It’s the song that gets me down and dancing with my kiddos, my hands in the air, and we are all giggling and smiling together.
Music as Therapy
Music has been proven to add to a person’s quality of life; it’s therapeutic. When a song comes on it might make you think of your prom night, a break up, or the first time you danced with the love of your life. I even had a playlist ready to go for the delivery room when I birthed my babies! In fact, many hospitals use music to help with relaxation, pain management, and even in hospice care. Music plays such an important role in our lives, and it is something we all have access to.
For me, I have favorite artists, songs and from those have made favorite playlists. All of these songs serve a purpose for so many different occasions. I love to crank up 80s rock on my way to work to pump myself up. I scream-sing at the top of my lungs taking breaks to drink my coffee and just that simple act changes my whole perspective of my day.
A Family Affair
In general, my family is full of music lovers. We prefer to jam out over vegging out. Breakfast is (most of the time) served at the table with one of our favorite Alexa satiations playing in the background. Some mornings it’s 80s rock, or Duluth’s own Trampled by Turtles if my husband is running the show. We are totally open if our littles have a request which tend to be along the lines of Five Little Monkeys, Baby Shark, or the something by the Okie Dokie Brothers.
Music has always been a constant companion. I keep an earbud in when I am cleaning, we have a speaker in our shower–nothing fancy, just s a little rechargeable thing from Amazon–and we try to keep the tunes going on the back porch with our outdoor speakers.
Now don’t get me wrong, not all my songs are super upbeat. I definitely queue up songs that just let me cry it out occasionally, because it’s okay to spend time with sad feelings, and not just during Covid but any time you need to. Some songs come on and you can picture a specific memory, literally picture it in your head. On my running playlist I have Low by Flo Rida–please don’t judge it was a favorite from when I was in my twenties! When I listen to that song I can literally picture myself putting on make up with one of my best friends before we went out and hit the town.
What’s on Your Playlist?
Music is such an amazing tool to have in your mama tool box. I have been slowly building up my Covid playlist, and trust me when I say that a good song can make everything feel better! What is going to be the song at the top of your Covid playlist?
