You’re having one of those days when everything that could go wrong does. Now, you’re crawling along in bumper-to-bumper traffic with a thundercloud over your head when the drive-time DJ drops your favourite tune. Two choruses later, you’re singing at the top of your lungs, playing drums on your steering wheel, and your bad mood is a thing of the past. That’s the power of music’s effect on your mental health.
And it’s not just in your head. A 2021 study in the journal European Psychiatry found that listening to music may reduce stress, lowering heart rate, blood pressure and levels of the stress-response hormone cortisol.
While music should not be used as a substitute for therapy or other medical interventions if you’re battling with frequent or chronic issues like depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, it could give you a boost on those days when you’re just in a foul mood. Consider these uplifting playlists as your comfort listening.
1. Happy Music From 1980s To 2025’s
Find it on: Spotify
From classics like Earth, Wind and Fire’s Boogie Wonderland to Avicii’s dance-floor fave Hey Brother, this line-up of feel-good hits was made with positive mental health vibes in mind. It’s a lifetime of happy memories all rolled into one loooong, lekker, uplifting playlist. With more than 24 hours of happy tunes, you can literally listen for days.
2. 100% Feel Good Playlist
Find it on: YouTube
Whether it’s Monday morning blues or the Sunday scaries that have you feeling blue, it’ll feel like Friday forever when you crank up the volume on this happy, uplifting playlist. Featuring tunes like Summer by Calvin Harris and Pitbull x Kesha’s Timber, it’s just one hit after the next.
3. 80s Happy Hits
Find it on: Deezer
Maybe it’s because it was born in the era of neon tights, legwarmers and aerobics, but there’s something about 80s pop that just instantly puts you in a good mood. If you’re taking a mental health day off, this 3.5-hour playlist will serve up just the large helping of old-school beats you need. You may even be tempted to get your aerobics on!
4. Dance Till Sunrise
Find it on: Vodacom Music
As if we didn’t know it already, science says dancing is good for your mental health. In 2021, UCLA Health published a study where they found that unchoreographed dance (the kind of spontaneous dancing you might do in your lounge when no one’s looking) had major positive effects on mental health. Study participants reported results like feeling more present in their body, more relaxed, and more in the moment. Cue up this playlist featuring hits like Beekay Monalayzzar’s Ama Clap Clap and Rocket by Special D. & Mental Theo and get your groove on.
5. Made in South Africa
Find it on: Spotify
Nothing puts in you in a good mood quite like some epic local tunes. This uplifting local playlist has more than 190 000 saves and with good reason: It’s a 6.5-hour celebration of local Mzansi music that’s guaranteed to give you a mental health boost.
If you’re feeling low or desperate, you’re not alone. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) has free mental health helplines that you can call to find support. Go to Sadag.org. Whether you're downloading to listen on-the-go or streaming at home, a solid internet connection makes all the difference to your music experience. Have a look at these Vodacom Fibre deals to ensure you have a stable and secure connection.
