Happiful May 2020

Play it your way
Five steps to creating your ultimate feel-good playlist
Writing | Kathryn Wheeler
Music has the ability to
completely transform our
moods. How many times
has an upbeat song come on, and
suddenly your feet are tapping,
you’re singing along, and the worries
that were weighing you down now
feel that much lighter?
A study published in PLOS One
found that music has the power to
significantly reduce stress levels,
and we can all vouch for the way that
the right song at the right time can
instantly put a smile on our face.
It’s time to harness the power of
music. Follow our five tips to start
building your new, ultimate
feel-good playlist.
A SONG FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD
Whether it’s a cheesy pop song
that you longed to come on at your
school disco, or a track that reminds
you of road-trip sing-a-longs with
your family, pick a song that brings
out your inner-child. Childhood
is so often a time of freedom and
joy, and music that takes us back
can help us remember those times
and embrace the simple things that
once made us so happy.
A SONG THAT REMINDS
YOU OF A PERSON
Maybe it’s a song that perfectly
sums up your relationship with your
significant other, or one that you
and a friend would sing along to at
the top of your lungs. Think about a
person who you care about deeply,
and who you are grateful to have
in your life, and choose a song that
reminds you of all the happy times
you have shared together.
A SONG THAT TRANSPORTS
YOU TO ANOTHER PLACE
Where do you feel most happy?
Bounding through the rolling
countryside? Lounging on a sunny
beach? Tucked up and cosy at
home? Music can transport us to
other times and places – a lovely
reminder for when we can’t be
there physically. Pick a song that
captures the feeling of a happy
place you have been. Maybe it’s an
upbeat holiday anthem, or a slow,
comforting track that reminds you
of home. Find the link, and add it
to the list.
A SONG YOU KNOW
EVERY WORD TO
There’s little more satisfying than
singing along with every word in a
song, from start to finish. You don’t
have to be a Céline Dion to belt out
a tune every now and then, and
there are many wellbeing benefits
of singing, including breathing
techniques and the release of
happy hormones into the body. So
pick an old familiar, then show us
what you’ve got.
A SONG THAT GETS YOU
ON THE DANCEFLOOR
Is there a song that causes you to
make a bee-line for the dancefloor
the moment it comes on? There’s
nothing like a bit of no-holdsbarred
dancing to lift your mood.
You don’t have to look good, the
only thing that matters is that you
feel good. Feel the music, allow the
joy to spread through your body,
and let yourself go.