Whenever I start a task, assignment, project, hobby, etc. I feel like I always want a sort of secondary form of entertainment besides the activity at hand. Most of the time people flip on a TV show that is good for some background noise or pick a playlist to listen to. However, I have started this series of mindfulness in the ways that one would usually not think about when they hear people talk about ‘mindfulness’. In this case, my mindfulness stems from being more aware of my mental stimulation limitations- how much is too much to the point where I become tired, irritated, cranky, sad, etc. This is sort of an experiment on myself, for myself to see if it is beneficial to my overall wellbeing and mental health.
After a day of working, talking, seeing people – we all know how we feel after a day of work and it is unique to each person, but usually when I am done with work, I’m not necessarily physically tired, but my brain certainly is (especially in the middle of a pandemic). When I get home and start to relax, I still want to have some form of audible entertainment that I believe so many of us are used to having constantly. Personally, I do not reach for the TV remote and instead opt for one of my favorite recent interests of lofi music. For those of you who don’t know (because I didn’t when I first started listening), lofi or “low-fidelity” music is simply songs/music where you can hear the imperfections or errors in a recording process. I am by no means an expert on the form, but I have definitely formed a new found appreciation for it because of the lack of brain power it takes to listen to it. I know that sounds silly, but if you think about it, when we are studying, cleaning, etc. and have vocal music or TV playing, we have a part of our brain that is focusing on that sound – more importantly the words the artist(s) are saying. With lofi, that energy it takes to listen and decipher vocals, whether we are fully conscious of it or not, is elmintated. I hear the music and the different sounds able to be heard with lofi, but there is no real vocal message to get across and the interpretation of the sounds is almost completely individualized – what I find as a sad lofi song you may not, and that’s one of the best things about this genre. Nevertheless, I have compiled a list of fifteen of my favorite lofi songs to play for any mood! Listen to a few the next time you sit down for a study session and put in those earbuds!
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Monday Loop by Tomppabeats
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long ago. by halberd
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magic — pearl by Arbour
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emerald by Kulpa
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Whatsreal by Psalm Trees
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simple. by coldbrew
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Chai Tea by audrey
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cinnamon by Smith Beats
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snowman by WYS
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5:32pm by The Deli
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insomnia by Side Effect, Silky
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Day 12 by Chris Mazura
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Breathe by Bae Toven
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Feline Friends by HM Surf, Hazy Year
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Away from Home by Jhove, Bert