For most of us, music is an essential part of our daily lives. It can impact our mood, help us through the day, and stir up our emotions in both good and bad situations. Plus, with modern technology, we can listen to virtually any song at any time. We can also put together an endless collection of playlists that bring together songs that perfectly complement one another. So, why not put together a playlist for every possible occasion that can enhance every activity and every part of your day?
Crafting the Perfect Playlist
Before you can start creating a playlist to fit every occasion, you need to know how to put together a playlist. This is more of an art than a science. It also gives the person creating the playlist a lot of freedom to do whatever feels right. But here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Keep the Purpose in Mind
If you’re creating a playlist for a specific occasion, always keep that purpose in mind. Stick to that particular theme with every song. Don’t try to put a song that doesn’t fit into that playlist; save it for another one. The bottom line is don’t forget why you’re making that specific playlist in the first place.
Start Strong
We can debate whether a playlist should rise and fall, but there’s no doubt it should start strong. Open every playlist with a song that perfectly encapsulates the mood you want to create and the theme of that particular playlist. It doesn’t have to be your favorite song, just the perfect song for the occasion.
Quality Over Quantity
Not every playlist has to be that long. It should always be about the quality of the songs rather than the number of songs. If a song just doesn’t fit, don’t force it in there to make the list longer. If it’s a truly great playlist, there’s nothing wrong with listening to it multiple times in a row. If it’s short and sweet, that might be a good thing.
Mix Genres
You never want to get bored with a playlist. Therefore, you don’t want to stick to songs that are in the same genre and might sound the same. You should always be willing to incorporate songs of different genres on the same playlist. This will create some variety and make your playlist truly unique.
Smooth Transitions
Of course, using multiple genres in one playlist can be tricky. You have to be careful to order the songs in a smooth way that makes sense. For instance, you don’t want to go from a tearjerking ballad to a fast-paced heavy metal song.
Every song should flow naturally into the one that follows it. This can make playlist creation a little challenging but fun and rewarding.
Include a Surprise
Granted, if you’re putting together a playlist for yourself, it can be hard to surprise yourself. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try. With every playlist, try to include one truly nostalgic song or one song that perhaps you don’t listen to a lot or might not listen to otherwise. This can be the best way to put a little surprise on every playlist, making that collection even better than you remember.
Stay Open-Minded to Updates
Even the best playlist doesn’t have to be written in stone. You should always be looking for ways to update or improve it. Perhaps you just remembered a song that will fit perfectly into a certain playlist. Maybe you want to change the order and pick a different song to be the first. Other times, one song on the playlist may have run its course and need to be removed. No matter how much you like a playlist, you should always be open-minded to changes.
Occasions That Require a Playlist
Now that you know how to create the perfect playlist, what activities require their own playlist? Obviously, this is up to the individual since we all have different parts of our lives when we want or need to listen to music more than others. But here are some ideas for when you should put together a customized playlist.
Waking Up
Everyone should have a playlist they listen to first thing in the morning. For most of us, waking and starting our day isn’t always easy. But with the right playlist to get you started and motivate you for another day, the morning grind can become a little easier.
In the Car
There’s nothing wrong with perusing the radio while driving, but it can be a good idea to come up with a playlist that’s good for the car. A great playlist can make the morning commute a little easier. You might also want a separate playlist you can play during long road trips.
Gaming
If you take online gaming seriously, you definitely need a playlist that’s specific to your gaming endeavors. For instance, if you like to play casino games, you might need a playlist that can help you stay focused. Meanwhile, if you play action-packed or adventure games, the perfect playlist will boost your energy levels and enhance the playing experience. The way you create a playlist might change based on the way you game, but if gaming is a big part of your life, you need a playlist that reflects that.
On the Job
In some cases, listening to music at work may not be appropriate. But for those who need music to help them through the workday, the perfect playlist is a game-changer. Granted, you could get bored with the same work playlist day after day. Perhaps you can have a work playlist that you use on those tough days when you need music to help you make it to the end of the day.
Working Out
If you work out without music in the background, something might be wrong. Exercising is hard enough without a little music to use as a distraction or motivation.
In fact, if you have the perfect playlist for working out, music can be your reward because the only way to listen to that killer playlist is to exercise.
Cooking
If you think about it, cooking is a rather bland activity. Yes, you have to pay attention to what you’re doing, but it’s mostly just reading and following directions. In other words, it’s an activity that needs to be spiced up with a little music. Crafting the perfect cooking playlist won’t be easy because you might need to alter things based on what you like to cook. But there is no doubt that cooking requires a playlist.
Relaxation
Last but not least, everyone should have a playlist that’s geared toward relaxation. When you have nothing to do or feel like doing nothing, there should be a collection of songs that makes you feel relaxed and helps you decompress. It’s amazing how the right group of songs can change your mood and help you relax when you need to blow off some steam, which is why your relaxation playlist might be the most important playlist you ever create.