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It’s at that point in the semester when exams and assignments are taking over, and I will cling to anything that makes me feel more motivated and less stressed. The only thing that keeps me from mentally breaking down in times like these is music. These are the songs that keep me on track, and they aren’t just for midterms or finals, they’re for the whole semester.
1. “Life Like This” by A.K.
“Never been a time like this, ain’t nobody grind like this.
Every single rhyme I spit, y’all know I supply my best.”
This song is all about the grind. When you’re working on something, and you just want to reach your end goal, this song will motivate you to put your best effort in to get the best results.
2. “Go Away” by A.K.
“I made it out my own way
Cause I paved my own way”
To get where you want to be, and to become the person you want to be, you need to work for it. Envision your end goal and put effort into the work you do now to get yourself there.
Only you can get yourself there, and this song is a reminder of that.
3. “Let’s Go” by Khalid
“Leave your sorrow on the table
Pick up your worries and throw them out the window”
Deadlines for assignments may be creeping up on you, or an exam you’re not ready for is coming up way too soon… Basically, you have a lot to worry about, but listening to this song will help you loosen up and de-stress. As Khalid says, “Let’s go, let go.”
4. “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” by Panic! At the Disco
“Hey look ma, I made it
Hey look ma, I made it
Everything’s comin’ up aces, aces”
I’ll be real with you, a lot of what I do is for me, but there are many times when I want to make my parents proud too. They invested in me throughout my whole life to get me where I am today, and I keep working hard because one day I want to show them that, well, I made it!
5. “Feel Something Good” by Biltmore
“I wanna feel feel something good
Feel something good
Feel feel something good
Feel something good”
To brighten your day from working so much, turn up this song and think about how good it will feel when you’re finally done. This song never fails to make me feel happy and motivated.
6. “Be Alright” by Ariana Grande
“Baby don’t you know?
All of them tears gon’ come and go.
Baby, you just gotta make up your mind
That every little thing is gonna be alright.”
If you’re telling me you haven’t cried, or at least broken down, from working at some point… well, I can’t relate. For the rest of us, we just need to remember that those tears will go away everything will be alright in the end.
7. “Gives You Hell” by The All-American Rejects
“You never seemed so tense love
I’ve never seen you fall so hard
Do you know where you are?”
This one is for that stage when you are questioning if college is meant for you. I love having songs that motivate me, but sometimes it makes me feel better to listen to something relatable, just to remind me that I’m not alone. So don’t worry, because we all struggle, and we all get through it eventually.
8. “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter
“Because you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around”
We all have bad days, and this song has been the sad song turning us around since 2005. Once it hits the chorus, I become split between two feelings. I feel like I’ve been having a bad day, but also motivated enough to believe that by the time the song is over my day will take a turn for the better.
9. “Sunset Lover” by Petit Biscuit
This song may not have lyrics, but that doesn’t make it any less motivating than the others. It is purely a calm, relaxing and uplifting beat, and it is my go-to study song. The rhythm is so consistent that it allows me to stay focused on my work without getting distracted, and it keeps me in a happy, stress-free mood.
10. “Another Day in Paradise” by Quinn XCII
“All the good, comes in waves
I bide my time by the ocean”
Sometimes when I’m working, my biggest motivation is to think of the times when I’ve been happy and when I know I will be happy again. This song is about how we experience both good times and bad times, so it’s important to cherish the good times and make them last to remember in times like these.
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More on Mental Health on Campus:
What Campus Mental Health Centers Are Doing to Keep Up With Student Need
If You’re a Student Who’s Struggling With Mental Health, These 7 Tips Will Help
The Hidden Stress of RAs in the Student Mental Health Crisis