back to Learn
We know music is more than just background noise – it’s a powerful, proven mood booster. It activates the parts of the brain linked to emotions, memory, and mood, helping to reduce stress and calm your mind. Whether you’re looking to lift your energy or find a moment of peace, hit play, and in under three minutes, you’ll start to see the difference.
Our ‘music for mental fitness’ series is thoughtfully curated by members of our community, featuring soundtracks that have helped them navigate their own ups and downs. Each playlist is designed with specific emotional experiences in mind, offering a soundtrack that aims to uplift, soothe, and build your mental fitness, one track at a time.
Belinda's playlist: Beats to Boost Your Confidence
Let’s be real – no one feels like a million bucks every day. We all have those days when our confidence and belief on ourselves feels shaky.
Sometimes, something happens that kicks it off – it might be making a mistake when you’re distracted, a comment from someone that stings, or you might put your foot in your mouth and hurt someone’s feelings. Other times, you might just be experiencing a really tough day.
When this happens, our confidence can take a hit and we can get stuck in our heads ruminating about things over-and-over. Sometimes we end up feeling angry, annoyed, ashamed or feeling a bit flat about ourselves. These feelings can bubble away under the surface, and we may even start to feel like we’re not good enough.
Belinda, a long-time Mental Fitness Gym member, can relate. Juggling family, work and friends can often feel like you’re not doing any of your roles well. She has come to learn that one strategy to turn down her inner critic, and turn up the volume on her mental fitness, is music.
What Belinda had to say:
Here are three standout tracks from Belinda's playlist:
Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys
“I love turning this one up loud and singing at the top of my voice – reminding me of the strength I have inside me and the potential we all have!”
Dog Days are Over - Florence + The Machine
“It’s hard not to listen to this song without getting up and moving your body. It’s a reminder that there will always be a new day after the tough ones.”
City of Blinding Lights - U2
“This song reminds me of the awe we can feel when we visit new places and see things from a new perspective.”
Listen to Belinda’s “Beats to Boost Your Confidence” playlist on Spotify.
The science behind the sounds
Music can influence mood and emotions, enhance the way our brain works, and promote a sense of connection with others and ourselves. Studies have shown that music can:
- Encourage emotional processing: Music often acts as a mirror for our emotions, giving us a safe space to process and express feelings that might otherwise feel overwhelming.1
- Reduce stress and anxiety: Listening to calming music has been found to lower cortisol levels, helping to alleviate stress and promote relaxation2.
- Boost motivation: Upbeat tracks can enhance physical performance and mental drive during workouts or challenging tasks, helping you to stay focused and energised3.
1 Hallam, S. (2010). The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people. International Journal of Music Education, 28(3), 269-289. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761410370658
2 Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(3), 170-180. https://doi.org/10/1038/nrn3666
3 Juslin, P. N., & Sloboada, J. A. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of Music and Emotion: Theory, Research, Applications. Oxford University Press.
