Setting yourself up for an evening of homework can be a daunting task. Let’s be real – some nights, you just want to watch netflix and forget about school (okay, most nights). One of the things that I find motivating is to have an awesome homework playlist. You want music that is fun and will encourage you to get everything done, but you don’t want it to be too distracting. Here are some things to consider while making a homework playlist:
- Listen to new music – Either on the radio, youtube, a music borrowing site through your local library, or by downloading from a website like NoiseTrade. When I listen to new music, I’m less likely to start singing along and dancing in my seat (yes, it really happens).
- Listen to your favorite tunes – Listening to your old faves is a great way to make homework a little more fun. When you know the songs you’re listening to, they sometimes fade into the background and provide a calming environment.
- Listen to scores or soundtracks – With scores, there are no lyrics to distract you. But with soundtracks, there’s often a variety of genres and tones that keep it interesting. I personally love listening to soundtracks while I’m working – it feels like you’re watching your favorite movies while you’re getting stuff done… win-win.
- Listen to mellow songs – Try to find songs that aren’t loud and seem to be screaming at you. Mellower songs are almost like background music, setting the mood for an evening of reading and note-taking. Most of your favorite artists will have a few songs that are slower and quieter – try making a playlist of those songs, perhaps with a few upbeat songs to break it up (and maybe give yourself a dance-break).
As you can tell, what music will work is a matter of personal preference. Try out a couple different playlists and figure out what works for you!
Below are some of my favorite albums, artists, and radio stations for listening to during homework sessions:
- Monte Carlo Score (yes, the one with Selena Gomez!)
- Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
- Jamie Cullum – Anything, really.
- The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1 Soundtrack
- iTunes Radio – Choose a mellower station, like Classical or Jazz (or my personal favorite, Crooners and Cocktails), or a station in a foreign language like French Pop. It’s a great option for when you just want something playing and you don’t want tot think too much about it.
- Leighton Meester – Heartstrings
- Graffiti6 – Colours
- Ed Sheerhan – Anything
- Andrew Belle -Anything
