By Chanel MacColl, a current 3rd Year Psychology student
Let’s have a mental health day, everyday. Last year I was involved with various World Mental Health Day activities. Whilst I truly admire the day dedicated to raising awareness of mental health, I recognise this is something that should be spoken about everyday. Mental illness can affect anybody in any way, any day of the week, month or year – so the ways you can support yourself and your loved ones around you should be spoken about frequently. So this inspired me…
I decided to research some of the things that help people on the daily through difficult times, and something that came up time and time again was music – and you know they say “music makes the world go round”. This prompted me to ask everyone around me what their “happy song” is – the song that can always make any day that little bit better. I decided to compile all of these songs together to create the ultimate feel good playlist; the “It’s Cool to be Kind (to yourself)” playlist. I really hope that whenever anyone is having a difficult day they can dance around to the music and feel their mood instantly improve.
I absolutely loved learning about the songs that make people happy and I really hope other people can enjoy them too. The Spotify playlist can be found here and the full track list will be shared at the end of this post; and if it can make even one person smile, then I will be happy.
This research and discussion into this playlist may have been inspired by World Mental Health Day, but it really is something that should be spoken about any day of the year. So let’s have a mental health day everyday – and always remember, it’s cool to be kind.
It’s Cool to be Kind (to yourself) ♡
Spotify – Click Here!
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
2. Have A Nice Day – Stereophonics
3. New Shoes – Paolo Nutini
4. Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
5. Would You Be So Kind – Dodie
6. Better Together – Jack Johnson
7. Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson
8. Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
9. Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
10. Rollercoaster – Jonas Brothers
11. I Like Me Better – Lauv
12. Stupid Deep – Jon Bellion
13. Orinoco Flow – Enya
14. Your Body Is a Wonderland – John Mayer
15. September – Earth, Wind & Fire
16. You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall & John Oates
17. Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runnres
18. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
19. Lost – Demot Kennedy
20. Waiting On the World to Change – John Mayer
21. All For You – Janet Jackson
22. What Baking Can Do – Jessie Mueller
23. A.M. – One Direction
24. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
25. Falling – Ebony Day
26. breathin – Ariana Grande
27. Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
28. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
29. Everybody Dance – CHIC
30. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
31. Your Song (Moulin Rouge)- Ewan McGregor, Alessandro Safina
32. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
33. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
34. Feeling Good – Michael Buble
35. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
36. It’s Been a Long, Long Time – Harry James
37. At Last – Etta James
38. Thank You For The Music – Amanda Seyfried
39. Ordinary People – John Legend
40. Soarin’ – Jerry Goldsmith
41. Lip Up Fatty – Big Manners
42. Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
43. Be Our Guest – Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach
44. Happy Days – Pratt & McClain
45. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
46. Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
47. Birdhouse in Your Soul – They Might Be Giants
48. Only You – Kylie Minogue, James Cordon
49. Hymn for the Weekend – Coldplay
50. Pencil Full of Lead – Paolo Nutini
51. Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
52. Glorious – Ella Henderson
53. Defying Gravity – Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel
54. Friend Like Me – Will Smith, DJ Khaled
55. Rainbow – Kacey Musgraves
56. If I Could Fly – One Direction
57. Cool Blue – The Japanese House
58. All Too Well – Taylor Shift
59. Girl Crush – Little Big Town
60. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
61. People Should Smile More – Newton Faulkner
62. Rather Be – Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne
63. Proud – Heather Small
64. Footloose – Kenny Loggins
65. Keep On Keeping On – Travie McCoy, Brendon Urie
66. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers
67. Moving Along – 5 Seconds of Summer
68. Runaway – Sebastian Yatra, Daddy Yankee, Natti Natasha, Jonas Brothers
69. New Light – John Mayer
70. Big And Chunky – will.i.am
71. Agadoo – Black Lace
72. With Or Without You – U2
73. Happy – Pharrell Williams
74. Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
75. Love Shack – The B -52’s
76. Stronger – Kanye West
77. Touch The Sky – Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco
78. Amen – Todrick Hall
79. Ugly – Sugababes
80. Bring It All Back – S Club 7
Visit Chanel’s own blog here
For help and advice whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Personal Pastoral Support at NTU (general worries and anxiety, homesickness, loneliness, a relationship breakup, or a bereavement)
Support from NTU
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Depression advice
Counselling
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Struggling at Uni? Go to Student Minds
10 Keys to happiness
Healthy NTU 