Getting out on time in the morning can be a daunting task, but music can be a powerful tool to help make the struggle seem effortless. Choosing the right songs to start your day will help you to stay focused and motivate you to get your day going.
Sometimes I struggle with focusing. I am a morning person, but for some reason, I always seem to find something to do before I do what I need to do to leave my house on time! Factor in a pre-teen daughter that needs a warm breakfast to start her day, and a teen daughter that is a night owl and far from a morning bird, and there were very few days I made it to work before the first bell.
That was all before I created a morning playlist to get our day started!
I understand first-hand how music can motivate behavior. I have used music to transition rowdy and energetic children into calm and serene students ready to learn. I have used music to impel unmotivated teenagers into passionate and engaged front runners ready to “take on the world”.
Plato said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything”. If music can do all of that, then surely music can give a little organization to your morning routine!
Perhaps you already have a playlist of your favorite songs for the morning. Have you considered what you are doing while each song is played? Does your playlist help you focus on a specific task?
Maybe you have a favorite radio station that you listen to as you get dressed. That is wonderful, but a personalized playlist will cater to your individual needs.
Here are a few steps that may help you create the perfect morning playlist:
MAKE A LIST OF YOUR MUST-HAVES
Start by jotting down a few songs that you love! Don’t limit yourself to a ,genre, tempo, or decade!
The perfect song to get you going may be slow. You don’t hit the ground running in the morning, do you? (If you do, you might not need this post at all!)
Consider your favorite praise and worship songs, silly songs, motivational songs, fight songs, and “sing-out-loud” songs. All of these songs will help you focus and transition through your morning routine.
Write down the timing of these songs to see which ones will fit best into your morning plan.
WRITE YOUR “TO DO” LIST
Write out your morning schedule. Hitting the snooze button is counterproductive and it can lead to rush and panic. No one wants to start the day rattled. Do you wake up and meditate with a devotion? Do you start your day off with coffee or tea? Do you shower first? Take a moment to write out whatever your ideal schedule is and figure out how long it will take you to complete each task.
Be realistic with your schedule. Rome wasn’t built in a day so be easy on your morning routine. If you are like me, give yourself a little leeway with a task or two in case you get distracted.
DECIDE WHAT TASK GOES WITH EACH SONG
This is the most important step in creating your perfect morning playlist. You will use each song to help you focus on a morning task. When you hear the song, you will know exactly where you are on your list and how much time you have left to do whatever it is you need to do.
Choosing the right song for the task takes thought and consideration. I do not want to be awakened with blasting music! I think it’s a rude way to start the day – even if I like the song. For my playlist, I chose an instrumental hymn to bring me out of my dreams.
In the same manner, I love the song “Rise Up” by Andra Day, but I wouldn’t choose it to brush my teeth. I would rather mindlessly dance to the “Cha-Cha Slide” or “Cupid Shuffle” during my oral hygiene practices. Keep in mind that some tasks will require more than one song!
Here are a few songs that I chose for my morning playlist. Several tasks have been left off, but this will give you an idea.
| Task | Song |
| End my dreams | “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Henry Flowers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3LL9LsApSE |
| Prepare Breakfast Tea | “Respect” by Aretha Franklin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0 |
| Shower | “Brave” by Moriah Peters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWBuWtC8MY “Come Alive” from The Greatest Showman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURBlSYPmBU |
| Breakfast | “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWYxTW02-MA |
| Get Dressed | “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk |
| Get in the Car and Go | “I’m Not Lucky, I’m Loved” by Jonathan McReynolds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qau4o0pu8Xo |
SET YOUR PLAYLIST AND NEVER HIT SNOOZE AGAIN
Now that you have completed your playlist, use it to move your morning along. Pay attention to your list and notice when the songs change.
Let each song nudge you a little closer to your goal of starting your day peacefully and on time.
Little POW-wow, Pearls of Wisdom
· There is a reason why the music on elevators are soothing and wordless and why “golden oldies” are played in vintage thrift stores and not in Forever 21. Are there certain songs that SHOULD NOT be on your morning playlist? What are they and why shouldn’t they be there?
· Daniel Chapter 3 tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When the music was played, they refused to bow to honor King Nebuchadnezzar. The intent of the music did not honor God and went against their belief. Not all music is good for us. How can we be intentional about the music we listen to?
Click here to download a worksheet to help you create the perfect morning playlist!
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Tune My Heart…
Bill Withers is arguably one of the greatest songwriters of all time. He wrote and recorded several major hits including “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Lean on Me”, and “Just the Two of Us”. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. We recently lost this great musician in March of this year.
“Lovely Day” was recorded in 1977 and has been covered by several artists. This song might be a great addition to your perfect morning playlist to kick-start a lovely day! Enjoy!
Traci D. Fuller, Pearls and Pretty Pens © 2020
Pearls and Pretty Pens 