Feel good music and top tips to look after your mental health

In aid of Mental Health Awareness Month this month, dotdigital’s newly formed wellbeing committee has shared some of their favorite ways to keep on top of their own mental wellbeing. Here are some of their top wellbeing tips and favourite feel good songs:

Brett Willis, Head of Customer Insight, EMEA

My wellbeing tip is to put some time aside to do the things that reward yourself and make you smile. This helps produce more of a chemical in your body called serotonin which in turn makes you feel better about yourself. Win-win. My go to feel good song is Happy by Pharrell Williams

Leah Phillp, HR Assistant

My tip is to say or do something nice for somebody else. Not only will it make their day, but it will also boost your mood as it feels good to spread positivity and be kind to others! I also like to do a few things every day that are dedicated to self-care, such as taking a walk, or a bath, reading, or spending some time meditating. Meditation always eases my anxiety and helps me to live in the present moment. My go to feel good song is Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader

Luke McCreery, Sales Consultant

My tip is to take time to have a few deep breaths. This helps calm everything down and reduces stress! Your body will thank you for it too! My feel good song is Everybody Dance by Chic

Paola Belloni Dwelly, Onboarding and Managed Services Manager

Top Tip: Fresh air and exercise! (walk, run, cycle, dance, you name it), it helps to get the endorphins flowing and snap out of that vicious cycle. Also, get on the phone and talk to someone, this always helps put everything into perspective. My feel good music is anything upbeat and electronic, or Depeche Mode are always a winner!

David Aldrich, Chief Human Resources Officer

My tip is to make time to do something you’re good at. If you’re good at something, you’re much more likely to enjoy it too! My feel good song: Space Cowboy by Jamiroquai.

Chante King, Software Engineer

My tip is to find a good spot of sunshine and bask in it for a while whenever you get the chance to, especially if you’re indoors for most of the day. I enjoy doing this and sometimes I meditate for a few minutes as well – reminding myself that just like sunlight helps plants to grow, it helps humans too. I visualize a wilted plant that has had little to no exposure to the sun, just start to thrive again. Exposure to sunlight gives you more energy and helps keep you calm, positive, and focused. A good song to listen to when you wake up is Beautiful Day by U2

Amie Lane, Head of Partner Marketing

My tip would be to listen to a good podcast – something that can open up your mind and lift your spirits. A couple of my go-to’s include:

• Unlocking Us with Brene Brown
• Feel Better Live More with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
• Dare to lead with Brene Brown
• Happy Place Fern Cotton
• Not Perfect Podcast with Poppy Jamie

I don’t really have a favorite go-to song but this one just makes me smile and its distracting enough to lift anyone’s spirits – have a listen and go do the dance  The Git Up – Blanco Brown

Aarushi Sawhney, Marketing Coordinator

My top tip is: Eat the rainbow (plants & veggies) & sleep well! I truly believe a happy and healthy gut leads to a happy mind. My song: Can’t Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake.

Julia Neuhold, Product Marketing Manager

My ultimate mindfulness tip is journaling. Most mornings you will find me bent over a notebook, writing down whatever is on my mind. If you sometimes get overwhelmed or stressed by the number of thoughts in your head, writing them down can bring some clarity and calm. Start by writing anything – and I mean anything. “I’m tired. I’m worried about my workday. I didn’t sleep well. Why won’t it stop raining? I made too many pub plans this weekend…” It’s all about getting it out of your head and onto paper. And if that’s not enough to bring me back to the present moment, I like to turn on some loud music and literally shake it off. Some of my feel-good songs: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, Like A Prayer by Madonna, or anything from Falco (any Austrian readers will understand…).

Phil Draper, General Manager EMEA

If it’s one of those days when everything feels a bit tougher than it should, I get comfort from cooking a new recipe with good ingredients to feed my family. For me, the act of creating something your loved ones can enjoy is soooo therapeutic and gives me perspective and balance. Talking (not just texting) with some good friends is a sure-fire winner too. Hunting out fresh sneakers has a place too! As for a track that always makes me smile, that’s a tough one as there are so many. A playlist that reminds me of good times (and I don’t mean the Chic disco classic) is always good, but if I had to name just one it would be O-o-h Child by The Five Stairsteps.’

Frank Brooks, Head of EMEA Marketing

For me, the best way to stay mentally fit is to talk, talk, and talk some more (shock right?) – but it doesn’t matter if you’re talking about a specific personal issue, it can just be good to speak to literally anyone about your day, their day, something you’re pleased with, or something you’re looking forward to – it could be anything. I find just talking and chatting with other people helps me feel less caged with my own thoughts and allows my mind to focus on the positives. If you do have a particular issue you feel is really getting you down, it is true what people say a problem shared is a problem halved. My feel-good song is tough because if I’m not talking I’m blaring music as I work, eat, or gym but I think anything by Years and Years, especially King.

dotdigital’s feel-good music

All our favorite songs can be found in our new Spotify playlist. We hope it brings you a little happiness to brighten your day the way it does ours. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ADJmsB4mbrTTpxeI9Dx85?si=17e2224dd0124e12&nd=1