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If you are done with the quiet or the chaos and are looking for gentle playlists to listen to throughout the day as a busy mom, this post is for you. In this post, I’m going to show you how to use Spotify playlists to create calm and rhythm in motherhood, and share my top 5 playlists for peace and focus.
In this post…
Before a few months ago, I don’t think I listened to music since I was in my early 20’s. I remember blasting artists like Halsey, Drake and DJ Snake in my apartment while getting ready for work or hanging out with my friends. And then… life happened, and for some reason I just… stopped. And after having kids, they didn’t want any music in the house or in the car unless it was *their* music. But then something shifted, and I randomly realized that I missed listening to music.
And as a mom of two boys under 5, some mornings feel like I’m running on fumes before the coffee even finishes brewing. The house is waking up, my boys are asking for breakfast, and I’m trying to remember where I left my phone (and my coffee)… It just feels like peace does not want to stick around. I’ve learned that for me, calm doesn’t always come from silence, like I thought it did. Sometimes it comes from… sound.
For a while I had contemplated getting these Loop noise reducing earplugs, but I also wanted a way to be able to listen to music and podcasts without bothering my kids (my son has a noise sensitivity, being on the spectrum, and playing my music on a speaker doesn’t always end well). But my over-ear headphones were too noise cancelling, and ear buds have never been comfortable for my ears. So I found these open ear headphones, that fit like wireless earbuds but just sit on the outside and don’t have to be wedged in the inside — perfect for comfort, and also allows you to still hear background noise (like kids 😅). Here are the exact ones I use and love from Amazon for just $40.
Now, when my mind starts to race, I can open Spotify and play something that brings me back to centre. I’ve noticed that music can physically release tension I am carrying and slow my breathing. You might also like this post on daily grounding habits to keep you sane.
How Listening To Music Affects Your Mood
Music literally has a direct affect on your mood, and I think we have all experienced it. Feeling upbeat and amped (whether cleaning the house as moms or getting to go out with our girlfriends when we were younger — the same playlists 😂), or playing music during the holidays to feel that warmth and nostalgia (check out 5+ Christmas playlists you’ll love here!). The same situation can be felt completely differently just depending on the music you are listening to!
Here are some quick facts about how music affects your mood (read this article here for some more info):
- Listening to music stimulates brain regions involved in emotion and memory, such as the limbic system (the area of the brain that processes emotions).
- Music can cause the brain to release dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure and motivation. This can create feelings of joy and make you feel more alert.
- Music can help release physical tension in the body.
- Slower music can help lower your heart and breathing rates, promoting a sense of calm. Fast-paced music can make you feel more energized.
Five Playlists To Add to Your Library to Stay Calm and Grounded
1. Tibetan Healing Music
This one is right in the title — Healing Music. There are many benefits to sound bowls (or singing bowls): lowering blood pressure, quieting the mind, slowing breathing, and promoting a sense of inner peace. I listen to this one in the morning when I can sit calmly and do my devotions or work on my blog.
2. Peaceful Piano Music
I love this one for clarity and focus. When I’m working on the blog, writing, or planning content for Let’s Glow, I love quiet piano music. It is also great for mundane tasks like doing dishes. Instrumental piano music can lower cortisol levels, helping to calm the nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety. Listening to this type of music can improve memory retention and recall — and I think we have all heard the theory that listening to classical music when pregnant can make your baby smarter. Is this true? I have never looked into it, but maybe!
3. 90’s Moms Cleaning The House Playlist
Maybe you want something upbeat and fun that hits the nostalgia. This one is for you. With almost 20,000 saves, this playlist truly hits. Your dopamine and serotonin will be firing on all cylinders! Listening to older music is beneficial by triggering “neural nostalgia,” which can boost mood, reduce stress, and increase optimism.
4. Calming Christian Worship
Sometimes I just want to feel the Holy Spirit in our home — and this playlist does the job.
As a busy, overstimulated, anxious, and overall stressed out mom, I don’t always have the capability or time to sit down and pray and worship. But praying and worship don’t always have to look like praying on your knees or singing in church. Sometimes it’s a deepening in your spirit while you’re doing the dishes or chopping vegetables for dinner, or it’s singing in the car while driving to swimming lessons.
The Bible even says when we cannot pray or worship with words, God will hear our groans; our deep, inexpressible feelings.
- Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Psalm 5:1
- The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we should pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with our groans that are not expressed in words. Romans 8:26
5. Christian Hits of the 2000’s
Okay, if you are a millennial mom and you grew up in the church, or if maybe you are just discovering a relationship with God for the first time and aren’t really resonating with modern day Christian worship and hymns… this playlist is for you.
Everything was better in the 2000’s, and this includes Christian music. 😂
Whether you’re looking for a blast of nostalgia that will have you both crying and dancing, or the recognizable upbeat millennial sounds, this playlist will have you worshipping in your kitchen without even realizing it.
6. BONUS: Enya
I would be remiss if I didn’t include this one. What could possibly be more grounding and nostalgic than Enya?
Building Your Own Wellness Rhythm
If you’re craving calm or struggling to find energy in the chaos that is motherhood, try creating your own playlist rotation. One for mornings, one for cleaning, one for winding down. Music can be one of the easiest tools for intentional living. I only wish I had discovered it sooner.
And if you haven’t already, subscribe to Let’s Glow for exclusive discount codes, affiliate promotions from my favourite brands like Arbonne, Eco-Kind Cleaning, and Organika, plus wellness tips made for busy moms.
Motherhood is noisy, but peace is still possible. We just have to be intentional on what noise we listen to. Read, share, or comment below: What playlist brings calm to your day? I’d love to hear your favourites!
