During an in-person semester, you’d walk outside after finishing a lecture to meet a friend for coffee, run to your next class or head over to the gym to get your workout in. Now everything is different. As if your entire world were flipped upside down, wearing a mask has become normal, going outside to spend time with friends is frowned upon and many of us feel trapped inside our rooms, hopping from one Zoom call to the next. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found this lifestyle to be surprisingly exhausting. I’m here to remind you that this is completely normal. What I’ve been doing to regain my energy and take a break from my screen and homework is listening to music. Because my entire universe currently revolves around my bedroom, I end up doing this on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Here is my “staring-at-your-ceiling” playlist so you can join me in taking a break from our remote Zoom lives to listen to some chill jams. Zoom fatigue is real, and relaxing in between meetings, classes and homework needs to become normalized to combat it.

“Goodie Bag” by Still Woozy

This song is the ultimate vibe check for any time of the day and practically any mood I’m in. It strings together both a chill beat and easy lyrics to make a perfect song. Sometimes, I wish this song could run for 30 minutes straight because two minutes and 30 seconds is simply not long enough. Overall, “Goodie Bag” is truly a brilliant song that never fails to satisfy after each listen.

“Can I Call You Tonight?” by Dayglow

I first listened to this song when I was running late for class last summer. I was studying abroad in Italy and completely forgot to set my alarm. I was a complete mess, scrambling to figure out which direction I was supposed to go in until this song came up next on my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist. Automatically, I felt soothed and calm, and I couldn’t help but laugh over why I was freaking out over being late. When I got home from school that afternoon, I played the song again and was able to completely de-stress from the day. I definitely recommend giving it a listen.

“Lucky” by Choker

After listening to this song for the first time last year, it immediately became one of my top “chill” songs. This song can motivate me to run, distract me while I’m cooking or put me to sleep — and I don’t know about you, but I’ve never listened to a song that can do all three.

“Anemone” by slenderbodies

Whenever I have a billion thoughts running through my head, I always search up this song. The beat carries such a chill vibe, the lyrics are funky and fresh and the length is perfect for a quick break to recollect yourself. In my opinion, this is the ultimate song to listen to the next time you’re lounging on your bed staring at the ceiling.

“Sometimes” by Goth Babe

The down-to-earth tone of this song always makes me nostalgic. Listening to it puts me in a happy trance in which I feel good, everything is glowing and I’m ready to jam the day away.

“Mr. Angel” by Tommy Newport

In my opinion, Tommy Newport is going to be a legend. This song carries such a funky vibe that you end up immersing yourself completely and dropping all of your worries (for the time being) during its entire four minutes.

“Younger” by The Hails

I fall more and more in love with this song each time I listen to it. Transporting me to another dimension where I don’t attend “Zoom University” and I’m not exhausted despite having two cups of coffee in my system, this song makes me feel at peace.

“Warm” by Dre’es feat. Mia

“Warm” takes me back to summertime. I can close my eyes and imagine myself sitting on the beach with my friends, soaking up the sun. This is a lovely song that reminds you why falling in love is so much fun.

“Candy Wrappers” by Summer Salt

This song always manages to transport me to a calm space where I feel content and relaxed. It makes me feel nostalgic for the days when I could knock on my neighbor’s door and play tag in the park all day long. It encourages me to bring back the good old days, be a kid again and stop taking things so seriously.

So next time you need a break from Zoom, listen to this playlist, stare up at your ceiling and let all your worries dissipate. Happy listening!