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I used to love to listen to music. I found motivation and inspiration through my favourite songs.
But as a mom who struggles with headaches, I’ve lost the connection to music. Instead of having tunes playing in the car while I’m alone, I opt for peace and quiet.
The problem is that I miss the motivation I used to get from music.
I constantly think of what Tony Robbins says about using music to change your mental state, but I still rarely turn on a motivating song.
Then yesterday as I was driving to the grocery store and “trying to keep the latent depression from crystallizing”*, I heard music coming from the car next to me. While our cars paused at the traffic lights, the song changed and the radio announced the station and started the next song. I thought of Tony Robbins as I felt the song change my state. As that car drove away, I turned on my radio to the same station and let myself sing a few lines. I soon arrived at the store and went inside to find the same radio station playing and finishing off the song, Firework by Katy Perry.
I decided to let the coincidence be a reminder to me of the importance of music in helping me battle my tendency toward depression.
And today when I was on Pinterest, I saw this post The 15 Best Motivational Songs For Getting Stuff Done.
So I pinned the post and decided to go a step further and make my own list of my favourite motivational songs.
Here are 20 of my Favorite Motivational Songs
These songs are guaranteed to get you UP, MOVING and MOTIVATED!
I’ve made a playlist on YouTube and on GrooveShark.
- U2 – Beautiful Day
- R.E.M. – Get Up
- The B-52’s – Roam
- Glee Cast – Don’t Stop Believin’
- Katy Perry – Roar
- Flashdance What A Feeling – Irene Cara
- Tina Turner – The Best
- Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory
- Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
- St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)
- Abba – Waterloo
- Roxette – The Look
- Smash Mouth – Walkin’ On The Sun
- Tubthumping – Chumbawumba
- Queen – We Are The Champions
- Bon Jovi – Keep The Faith
- Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
- You Get What you Give – New Radicals
- Elton John – I’m Still Standing
- Beatles- Here Comes The Sun
[Tweet “What would you add to this playlist of 20 Motivational Songs? What gets you UP and MOVING?”]
What Songs Would You Add?
What are your favorite songs that get you motivated and moving?
*”Trying to keep the latent depression from crystallizing” is one of my favourite lyric quotes from Bruce Cockburn that is the best description for how I often feel.
Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at http://pinterest.com/5minutesformom/
kaitlyn says
colbie caillat and some sara bareilles also has some really good songs to put you in a good mood if you’re into light pop
Amanda says
Oh I love it! Thanks for including my playlist! I was the same way…silence in the car, and I try to keep the music off at home to decrease the noise level in my house. I forgot how awesome of a motivator music can be. Love your list…adding it to mine!!
Emilia says
Love U2, Beautiful Day is awesome!
Susan says
Yes, U2 has been my favorite band since I was 14 and I saw them live for “The Joshua Tree” concert. It was the most powerful live performance I’ve ever seen still to this day. I love that they’ve stayed awesome for so many years.
LKlonsky says
What a great post! Lately, I’ve been enjoying a lot of the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, and the Raspberries’ “Go All The Way.”
Susan says
Thanks! I spent way too long building that playlist… but it was such fun and I’m still feeling motivated from all the songs I listened to while selecting my top 20 favorites.
And I agree the Bee Gees rock!
Jennifer Donovan says
Love this post! I love to sing it loud and proud in the car. It just puts me in a great mood. But like you, when I don’t have my chatty kids with me, I often opt for peace and quiet, and I found I miss it. Now when I’m home working on the computer or doing housework, I sometimes crank up Pandora. The REO Speedwagon channel has a lot of these great 80s and 90s tunes.
Susan says
It’s such a drag that we don’t have access to Pandora in Canada… it’s so unfair. We miss out on lots of music and video streaming options being here in Canada.